An added grief was the absence of a funeral. Reuben did not feel this as the relief it would have been to some. He had given handsome and expensive funerals to those not half so dear as this young man who had been hurried into his soldier's grave on the lonely veldt. In course of time William sent him a snapshot of the place, with its little wooden cross. Reuben dictated a tremendously long letter through Maude the dairy-woman, in which he said he wanted a marble head-stone put up, and "of Odiam, Sussex," added to the inscription.
He went up to Albert's room. He had furiously given Ditch the lie in the Courthouse, but he had never trusted his son, and the accusation had poured over him a flood of shame which could be quelled only by its proof or its refutation. If Albert's guilt were provedwhich Reuben, now bathing in this luminous shame, saw was quite probablethen he knew what to do to clean the smirch off Odiam; if, on the other hand, his innocence were established, then he would punish those swine who threw mud at him and his farm."What is it?" mumbled Albert, himself again for a moment.Reuben was silent. He sat leaning forward in his chair, holding Alice's hand. Then he abruptly rose to his feet.Wander all the proud and dead"I didn't know. This is the first I've heard of it. Anyhow, you surely don't mean to say you married me for my money.""Well, liddle Rose."