"Why?" she asked unsteadily.
"Three white feathers, three separate accusations of cowardice, were
sent to Feversham by three separate men. This is actually one of those
feathers which were forwarded from his lodgings to Ramelton five years
ago. I am one of the three men who sent them. I have come to tell you
that I withdraw my accusation. I take my feather back."
"And you bring it to me?"
"He asked me to."
Ethne took the feather in her palm, a thing in itself so light and
fragile and yet so momentous as a symbol, and the trees and the garden
began to whirl suddenly about her. She was aware that Captain Willoughby
was speaking, but his voice had grown extraordinarily distant and thin;
so that she was annoyed, since she wished very much to hear all that he
had to say. She felt very cold, even upon that August day of sunlight.
But the presence of Captain Willoughby, one of the three men whom she
never would forgive, helped her to command herself. She would give no
exhibition of weakness before any one of the detested three, and with an
effort she recovered herself when she was on the very point of swooning.
"Come," she said, "I will hear your story.
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