She had only written one letter, and that one was to Emile. Now that
he was gone there was no one else who cared.
Something told her now that his last words had only been an attempt to
comfort her, to ease her mind, and that she would wait in vain for his
return.
Estelle would weep for a little while, and drink a great deal to drown
her tears, and then forget. They were nearly at the hut now. She
could see it, a grotesque shadow thrown across the silvered earth.
She slipped off and walked, leading her mule by the bridle.
Behind her were subdued curses, the rattle of slipping hoofs and
falling stones, as the animals climbed the last and steepest piece of
road, which ended in the plateau on which the building stood.
In front of it was a single large tree, but most of the ground close by
bore nothing higher than dwarf shrubs and long grass.
When the cavalcade drew up and dismounted, Vardri was discovered to be
missing.
He had been late in starting, lagged behind the others and dropped out
of sight before they were scarcely clear of the town.
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