The Turn of the Tide

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908. Excerpt: ... As he spoke, he salved his conscience with the determination to tell the truth at the first convenient opportunity. The Vennables, in any case, had sought him, not he them. And it would have been almost impossible to have refused the rector's invitation. Tisdale added a few words as soon as the men were alone. "You will be doing a good deed," he said. "And, look here, talk to the dear old man about things outside the Forest. Fancy what it has been, buried alive in Hernshaw Magna for five and twenty years, with the Pundles and the Bungays and the Mottisfonts all around him. Personally, I'd sooner associate with publicans and sinners--and, breathe it not!--so would he." "I'm in rather a hole," said Hugo. "Look here, Tisdale, my name is Hugo Reginald Charteris, and if you can believe the halfpenny papers I'm one of the biggest blackguards in the kingdom!" "Phew-w-w!" "That's why I've kept out of the Rectory." Tisdale's eyes were very wide open. Then he threw back his head and laughed: "Scapegoat is the word, isn't it?" "I've been a fool and a knave," said Hugo slowly. "Two or three people have stripped the scales from my eyes, and you're one of them." Then, very quietly, he added a few details. When he had finished, Tisdale understood that Hugo Charteris was bound to Angela Tempest; but whether or not the captive hugged his chains was an interesting problem which Tisdale felt unable to solve. "I must tell the Vennables," said Hugo. Tisdale screwed up his face, a grimace indicating not so much perplexity as a whimsical apprehension of two sides of a nice question. "As to that," he said, presently, "you will, of course, do what you think proper, but, as Vennable's doctor, I absolutely forbid you to tell him till he is stronger." "If he can play Bridge" "My dea...