dayscame
to
her
aid
,
and
she
continued
,
“
but
you
can
take
all
the
examinations
here
at
once
,
you
know
;
and
Grace
can
find
you
a
summons
paper
,
if
you
will
just
go
into
the
study
.
”
“
It
might
save
the
having
the
children
over
to-morrow
,
certainly
,
”
said
Mr.
Grey
,
and
he
was
inducted
almost
passively
into
the
leathern
chair
before
the
library
table
,
where
Mr.
Curtis
had
been
wont
to
administer
justice
,
and
Grace
was
diving
deep
into
a
bureau
for
the
printed
forms
long
treasured
there
,
her
mother
directing
her
,
though
Mr.
Grey
vainly
protested
that
any
foolscap
would
do
as
well
.
It
was
a
curious
scene
.
Mrs.
Grey
with
her
daughters
had
the
discretion
to
remove
themselves
,
but
every
one
else
was
in
a
state
of
excitement
,
and
pressed
into
the
room
,
the
two
boys
disputing
under
their
breath
whether
the
civilians
called
it
a
court
martial
,
and
,
with
some
confusion
between
mutineers
and
Englishwomen
,
hoping
the
woman
would
be
blown
from
the
mouth
of
a
cannon
,
for
hadn’t
she
gone
and
worn
a
cap
like
mamma’s
?
They
would
have
referred
the
question
to
Miss
Williams
,
but
she
had
been
deposited
by
the
Colonel
on
one
of
the
chairs
in
the
furthest
corner
of
the
room
,
and
he
stood
sheltering
her
agitation
and
watching
the
proceedings
.
Lady
Temple
still
held
a
hand
of
each
of
her
rescued
victims
,
as
if
she
feared
they
were
still
in
danger
,
and
all
the
time
Rachel
stood
and
looked
like
a
statue
,
unable
to
collect
her
convictions
in
the
hubbub
,
and
the
trust
,
that
would
have
enabled
her
to
defy
all
this
,
swept
away
from
her
by
the
morning’s
transactions
.
Yet
still
there
was
a
hope
that
appearances
might
be
delusive
,
and
an
habitual
low
estimate
of
Mr.
Grey’s
powers
that
made
her
set
on
looking
with
her
own
eyes
,
not
with
his
.
His
first
question
was
about
the
children’s
names
and
their
friends
,
and
this
led
to
the
despatching
of
a
message
to
the
mother
and
aunt
.
He
then
inquired
about
the
terms
on
which
they
had
been
placed
at
St.
Norbert’s
,
and
Rachel
,
who
was
obliged
to
reply
,
felt
under
his
clear
,
stringent
questions
,
keeping
close
to
the
point
,
a
good
deal
more
respect
for
his
powers
than
she
had
hitherto
entertained
.
That
dry
way
of
his
was
rather
overwhelming
.
When
it
came
to
the
children
themselves
,
Rachel
watched
,
not
without
a
hope
that
the
clear
masculine
intellect
would
detect
Fanny
in
a
more
frightened
woman’s
fancy
,
and
bring
the
F
.
U
.
E
.
E
.
off
with
flying
colours
.
Little
Mary
Morris
stood
forth
valiant
and
excited
.
She
was
eleven
years
old
,
and
intelligent
enough
to
make
it
evident
that
she
knew
what
she
was
about
.
The
replies
were
full
.
The
blows
were
described
,
with
terrible
detail
of
the
occasions
and
implements
.
Still
Rachel
remembered
the
accusation
of
Mary’s
truth
.
She
tried
to
doubt
.
“
I
saw
her
with
a
bruised
eye
,
”
said
the
Colonel’s
unexpected
voice
in
a
pause
.
“
How
was
that
?
”
“
Please
,
sir
,
Mrs.
Rawlins
hit
me
with
her
fist
because
I
had
only
done
seven
sprigs
.
She
knocked
me
down
,
and
I
did
not
come
to
for
ever
so
long
.
”
And
not
only
this
,
and
the
like
sad
narratives
,
but
each
child
bore
the
marks
in
corroboration
of
the
words
,
which
were
more
reluctant
and
more
hoarse
from
Lovedy
,
but
even
more
effective
.
Rachel
doubted
no
more
after
the
piteous
sight
of
those
scarred
shoulders
,
and
the
pinched
feeble
face
;
but
one
thing
was
plain
,
namely
,
that
Mr.
Mauleverer
had
no
share
in
the
cruelties
.
Even
such
severities
as
had
been
perpetrated
while
he
was
in
the
house
,
had
,
Mary
thought
,
been
protested
against
by
him
,
but
she
had
seldom
seen
him
,
he
paid
all
his
visits
in
the
little
parlour
,
and
took
no
notice
of
the
children
except
to
prepare
the
tableau
for
public
inspection
.
Mr.
Grey
,
looking
at
his
notes
,
said
that
there
was
full
evidence
to
justify
issuing
a
summons
against
the
woman
for
assaulting
the
children
,
and
proceeded
to
ask
her
name
.
Then
while
there
was
a
question
whether
her
Christian
name
was
known
,
the
Colonel
again
said
,
“
I
believe
her
name
to
be
Maria
Hatherton
.
Miss
Williams
has
recognised
her
as
a
servant
who
once
lived
in
her
family
,
and
who
came
from
her
father’s
parish
at
Beauchamp
.
”
Alison
on
inquiry
corroborated
the
statement
,
and
the
charge
was
made
against
Maria
Rawlins
,
alias
Hatherton
.
The
depositions
were
read
over
to
the
children
,
and
signed
by
them
;
with
very
trembling
fingers
by
poor
little
Lovedy
,
and
Mr.
Grey
said
he
would
send
a
policeman
with
the
summons
early
next
day
.
“
But
,
Mr.
Grey
,
”
burst
out
Mrs.
Curtis
,
“
you
don’t
mean
that
you
are
not
going
to
do
anything
to
that
man
!
Why
he
has
been
worse
than
the
woman
!
It
was
he
that
entrapped
the
poor
children
,
and
my
poor
Rachel
here
,
with
his
stories
of
magazines
and
illustrations
,
and
I
don’t
know
what
all
!
”
“
Very
true
,
Mrs.
Curtis
,
”
said
the
magistrate
,
“
but
where’s
the
charge
against
him
?
”
It
may
be
conceived
how
pleasant
it
was
to
the
clever
woman
of
the
family
to
hear
her
mother
declaiming
on
the
arts
by
which
she
had
been
duped
by
this
adventurer
,
appealing
continually
to
Grace
and
Fanny
,
and
sometimes
to
herself
,
and
all
before
Mr.
Grey
,
on
whose
old-world
prejudices
she
had
bestowed
much
more
antagonism
than
he
had
thought
it
worth
while
to
bestow
on
her
new
lights
.
Yet
,
at
the
moment
,
this
operation
of
being
written
down
an
ass
,
was
less
acutely
painful
to
her
than
the
perception
that
was
simultaneously
growing
on
her
of
the
miserable
condition
of
poor
little
Lovedy
,
whose
burning
hand
she
held
,
and
whose
gasping
breath
she
heard
,
as
the
child
rested
feebly
in
the
chair
in
which
she
had
been
placed
.
Rachel
had
nothing
vindictive
or
selfish
in
her
mood
,
and
her
longing
was
,
above
all
,
to
get
away
,
and
minister
to
the
poor
child’s
present
sufferings
;
but
she
found
herself
hemmed
in
,
and
pinned
down
by
the
investigation
pushed
on
by
her
mother
,
involving
answers
and
explanations
that
she
alone
could
make
.
Mr.
Grey
rubbed
his
forehead
,
and
looked
freshly
annoyed
at
each
revelation
of
the
state
of
things
.
It
had
not
been
Mauleverer
,
but
Rachel
,
who
had
asked
subscriptions
for
the
education
of
the
children
,
he
had
but
acted
as
her
servant
,
the
counterfeit
of
the
woodcuts
,
which
Lady
Temple
suggested
,
could
not
be
construed
into
an
offence
;
and
it
looked
very
much
as
if
,
thanks
to
his
cleverness
,
and
Rachel’s
incaution
,
there
was
really
no
case
to
be
made
out
against
him
,
as
if
the
fox
had
carried
off
the
bait
without
even
leaving
his
brush
behind
him
.
Sooth
to
say
,
the
failure
was
a
relief
to
Rachel
,
she
had
thrown
so
much
of
her
will
and
entire
self
into
the
upholding
him
,
that
she
could
not
yet
detach
herself
or
sympathize
with
those
gentle
souls
,
the
mother
and
Fanny
,
in
keenly
hunting
him
down
.
Might
he
not
have
been
as
much
deceived
in
Mrs.
Rawlins
as
herself
?
At
any
rate
she
hoped
for
time
to
face
the
subject
,
and
kneeling
on
the
ground
so
as
to
support
little
Lovedy’s
sinking
head
on
her
shoulder
,
made
the
briefest
replies
in
her
power
when
referred
to
.
At
last
,
Grace
recollected
the
morning’s
affair
of
Mrs.
Rossitur’s
bills
.
Mr.
Grey
looked
as
if
he
saw
daylight
,
Grace
volunteered
to
fetch
both
the
account-book
and
Mrs.
Rossitur
,
and
Rachel
found
the
statement
being
extracted
from
her
of
the
monthly
production
of
the
bills
,
with
the
entries
in
the
book
,
and
of
her
having
given
the
money
for
their
payment
.
Mr.
Grey
began
to
write
,
and
she
perceived
that
he
was
taking
down
her
deposition
.
She
beckoned
Mary
to
support
her
poor
little
companion
,
and
rising
to
her
feet
,
said
,
to
the
horror
and
consternation
of
her
mother
,
“
Mr.
Grey
,
pray
let
me
speak
to
you
!
”
He
rose
at
once
,
and
followed
her
to
the
hall
,
where
he
looked
prepared
to
be
kind
but
firm
.
“
Must
this
be
done
to-day
?
”
she
said
.
“
Why
not
?
”
he
answered
.
“
I
want
time
to
think
about
it
.
The
woman
has
acted
like
a
fiend
,
and
I
have
not
a
word
to
say
for
her
;
but
I
cannot
feel
that
it
is
fair
,
after
such
long
and
entire
trust
of
this
man
,
to
turn
on
him
suddenly
without
notice
.
”
“
Do
you
mean
that
you
will
not
prosecute
?
”
said
Mr.
Grey
,
with
a
dozen
notes
of
interjection
in
his
voice
.
“
I
have
not
said
so
.
I
want
time
to
make
up
my
mind
,
and
to
hear
what
he
has
to
say
for
himself
.
”
“
You
will
hear
that
at
the
Bench
on
Wednesday
.
”
“
It
will
not
be
the
same
thing
.
”
“
I
should
hope
not
!
”
“
You
see
,
”
said
Rachel
,
perplexed
and
grievously
wanting
time
to
rally
her
forces
,
“
I
cannot
but
feel
that
I
have
trusted
too
easily
,
and
perhaps
been
to
blame
myself
for
my
implicit
confidence
,
and
after
that
it
revolts
me
to
throw
the
whole
blame
on
another
.
”
“
If
you
have
been
a
simpleton
,
does
that
make
him
an
honest
man
?
”
said
Mr.
Grey
,
impatiently
.
“
No
,
”
said
Rachel
,
“
but
—
”
“
What
?
”
“
My
credulity
may
have
caused
his
dishonesty
,
”
she
said
,
bringing
,
at
last
,
the
words
to
serve
the
idea
.
“
Look
you
here
,
Rachel
,
”
said
Mr.
Grey
,
constraining
himself
to
argue
patiently
with
his
old
friend’s
daughter
;
“
it
does
not
simply
lie
between
you
and
him
—
a
silly
girl
who
has
let
herself
be
taken
in
by
a
sharper
.
That
would
be
no
more
than
giving
a
sixpence
to
a
fellow
that
tells
me
he
lost
his
arm
at
Sebastopol
when
he
has
got
it
sewn
up
in
a
bag
.
But
you
have
been
getting
subscriptions
from
all
the
world
,
making
yourself
answerable
to
them
for
having
these
children
educated
,
and
then
,
for
want
of
proper
superintendence
,
or
the
merest
rational
precaution
,
leaving
them
to
this
barbarous
usage
.
I
don’t
want
to
be
hard
upon
you
,
but
you
are
accountable
for
all
this
;
you
have
made
yourself
so
,
and
unless
you
wish
to
be
regarded
as
a
sharer
in
the
iniquity
,
the
least
you
can
do
by
way
of
compensation
,
is
not
to
make
yourself
an
obstruction
to
the
course
of
justice
.
”
“
I
don’t
much
care
how
I
am
regarded
,
”
said
Rachel
,
with
subdued
tone
and
sunken
head
;
“
I
only
want
to
do
right
,
and
not
act
spitefully
and
vindictively
before
he
has
had
warning
to
defend
himself
.
”
“
Or
to
set
off
to
delude
as
many
equal
foo
—
mistaken
people
as
he
can
find
elsewhere
!
Eh
,
Rachel
?
Don’t
you
see
,
it
this
friend
of
yours
be
innocent
,
a
summons
will
not
hurt
him
,
it
will
only
give
him
the
opportunity
of
clearing
himself
.
”
“
Yes
,
I
see
,
”
owned
Rachel
,
and
overpowered
,
though
far
from
satisfied
,
she
allowed
herself
to
be
brought
back
,
and
did
what
was
required
of
her
,
to
the
intense
relief
of
her
mother
.
During
her
three
minute
conference
no
one
in
the
study
had
ventured
on
speaking
or
stirring
,
and
Mrs.
Curtis
would
not
thank
her
biographer
for
recording
the
wild
alarms
that
careered
through
her
brain
,
as
to
the
object
of
her
daughter’s
tete-a-tete
with
the
magistrate
.
It
was
over
at
last
,
and
the
hall
of
justice
broke
up
.
Mary
Morris
was
at
once
in
her
mother’s
arms
,
and
in
a
few
minutes
more
making
up
for
all
past
privations
by
a
substantial
meal
in
the
kitchen
.
But
Mrs.
Kelland
had
gone
to
Avoncester
to
purchase
thread
,
and
only
her
daughter
Susan
had
come
up
,
the
girl
who
was
supposed
to
be
a
sort
of
spider
,
with
no
capacities
beyond
her
web
.
Nor
did
Rachel
think
Lovedy
capable
of
walking
down
to
Mackarel
Lane
,
nor
well
enough
for
the
comfortless
chairs
and
the
third
part
of
a
bed
.
No
,
Mr.
Grey’s
words
that
Rachel
was
accountable
for
the
children’s
sufferings
had
gone
to
her
heart
.
Pity
was
there
and
indignation
,
but
these
had
brought
such
an
anguish
of
self-accusation
as
she
could
only
appease
by
lavishing
personal
care
upon
the
chief
sufferer
.
She
carried
the
child
to
her
own
sitting-room
and
made
a
couch
for
her
before
the
fire
,
sending
Susan
away
with
the
assurance
that
Lovedy
should
stay
at
the
Homestead
,
and
be
nursed
and
fed
till
she
was
well
and
strong
again
.
Fanny
,
who
had
accompanied
her
,
thought
the
child
very
ill
,
and
was
urgent
that
the
doctor
should
be
sent
for
;
but
between
Rachel
and
the
faculty
of
Avonmouth
there
was
a
deadly
feud
,
and
the
proposal
was
scouted
.
Hunger
and
a
bad
cold
were
easily
treated
,
and
maybe
there
was
a
spark
of
consolation
in
having
a
patient
all
to
herself
and
her
homoeopathic
book
.
So
Fanny
and
her
two
boys
walked
down
the
hill
together
in
the
dark
.
Colonel
Keith
and
Alison
Williams
had
already
taken
the
same
road
,
anxiously
discussing
the
future
.
Alison
asked
why
Colin
had
not
given
Mauleverer’s
alias
.
“
I
had
no
proof
,
”
he
said
.
“
You
were
sure
of
the
woman
,
but
so
far
it
is
only
guess
work
with
him
;
though
each
time
Rose
spoke
of
seeing
Maddox
coincided
with
one
of
Mauleverer’s
visits
.
Besides
,
Alison
,
on
the
back
of
that
etching
in
Rose’s
book
is
written
,
Mrs.
Williams
,
from
her
humble
and
obliged
servant
,
R
.
Maddox.’
”
“
And
you
said
nothing
about
it
?
”
“
No
,
I
wished
to
make
myself
secure
,
and
to
see
my
way
before
speaking
out
.
”
“
What
shall
you
do
?
Can
you
trust
to
Rose’s
identifying
him
?
”
“
I
shall
ride
in
to-morrow
to
see
what
is
going
on
,
and
judge
if
it
will
be
well
to
let
her
see
this
man
,
if
he
have
not
gone
off
,
as
I
should
fear
was
only
too
likely
.
Poor
little
Lady
Temple
,
her
exploit
has
precipitated
matters
.
”
“
And
you
will
let
every
one
,
Dr.
Long
and
all
,
know
what
a
wretch
they
have
believed
.
And
then
—
”
“
Stay
,
Alison
,
I
am
afraid
they
will
not
take
Maddox’s
subsequent
guilt
as
a
proof
of
Edward’s
innocence
.
”
“
It
is
a
proof
that
his
stories
were
not
worth
credit
.
”
“
To
you
and
me
it
is
,
who
do
not
need
such
proof
.
It
is
possible
that
among
his
papers
something
may
be
found
that
may
implicate
him
and
clear
Edward
,
but
we
can
only
hold
off
and
watch
.
And
I
greatly
fear
both
man
and
woman
will
have
slipped
through
our
fingers
,
especially
if
she
knew
you
.
”
“
Poor
Maria
,
who
could
have
thought
of
such
frightful
barbarity
?
”
sighed
Alison
.
“
I
knew
she
was
a
passionate
girl
,
but
this
is
worse
than
one
can
bear
to
believe
.
”
She
ceased
,
for
she
had
been
inexpressibly
shocked
,
and
her
heart
still
yearned
towards
every
Beauchamp
school
child
.
“
I
suppose
we
must
tell
Ermine
,
”
she
added
;
“
indeed
,
I
know
I
could
not
help
it
.
”
“
Nor
I
,
”
he
said
,
smiling
,
“
though
there
is
only
too
much
fear
that
nothing
will
come
of
it
but
disappointment
.
At
least
,
she
will
tell
us
how
to
meet
that
.
”
CHAPTER
XIX
.
THE
BREWST
SHE
BREWED
.
“
Unwisely
,
not
ignobly
,
have
I
given
.
”
Timon
of
Athens
.
Under
the
circumstances
of
the
Curtis
family
,
no
greater
penance
could
have
been
devised
than
the
solemn
dinner
party
which
had
to
take
place
only
an
hour
after
the
investigation
was
closed
.
Grace
in
especial
was
nearly
distracted
between
her
desire
to
calm
her
mother
and
to
comfort
her
sister
,
and
the
necessity
of
attending
to
the
Grey
family
,
who
repaid
themselves
for
their
absence
from
the
scene
of
action
by
a
torrent
of
condolences
and
questions
,
whence
poor
Grace
gathered
to
her
horror
and
consternation
that
the
neighbourhood
already
believed
that
a
tenderer
sentiment
than
philanthropy
had
begun
to
mingle
in
Rachel’s
relations
with
the
secretary
of
the
F
.
U
.
E
.
E
.
Feeling
it
incumbent
on
the
whole
family
to
be
as
lively
and
indifferent
as
possible
,
Grace
,
having
shut
her
friends
into
their
rooms
to
perform
their
toilette
,
hurried
to
her
sister
,
to
find
her
so
entirely
engrossed
with
her
patient
as
absolutely
to
have
forgotten
the
dinner
party
.
No
wonder
!
She
had
had
to
hunt
up
a
housemaid
to
make
up
a
bed
for
Lovedy
in
a
little
room
within
her
own
,
and
the
undressing
and
bathing
of
the
poor
child
had
revealed
injuries
even
in
a
more
painful
state
than
those
which
had
been
shown
to
Mr.
Grey
,
shocking
emaciation
,
and
most
scanty
garments
.
The
child
was
almost
torpid
,
and
spoke
very
little
.
She
was
most
unwilling
to
attempt
to
swallow
;
however
,
Rachel
thought
that
some
of
her
globules
had
gone
down
,
and
put
much
faith
in
them
,
and
in
warmth
and
sleep
;
but
incessantly
occupied
,
and
absolutely
sickened
by
the
sight
of
the
child’s
hurts
,
she
looked
up
with
loathing
at
Grace’s
entreaty
that
she
would
,
dress
for
the
dinner
.
“
Impossible
,
”
she
said
.
“
You
must
,
Rachel
dear
;
indeed
,
you
must
.
”
“
As
if
I
could
leave
her
.
”
“
Nay
,
Rachel
,
but
if
you
would
only
send
—
”
“
Nonsense
,
Grace
;
if
I
can
stay
with
her
I
can
restore
her
far
better
than
could
an
allopathist
,
who
would
not
leave
nature
to
herself
.
O
Grace
,
why
can’t
you
leave
me
in
peace
?
Is
it
not
bad
enough
without
this
?
”
“
Dear
Rachel
,
I
am
very
sorry
;
but
if
you
did
not
come
down
to
dinner
,
think
of
the
talk
it
would
make
.
”
“
Let
them
talk
.
”
“
Ah
,
Rachel
,
but
the
mother
!
Think
how
dreadful
the
day’s
work
has
been
to
her
;
and
how
can
she
ever
get
through
the
evening
if
she
is
in
a
fright
at
your
not
coming
down
?
”
“
Dinner
parties
are
one
of
the
most
barbarous
institutions
of
past
stupidity
,
”
said
Rachel
,
and
Grace
was
reassured
.
She
hovered
over
Rachel
while
Rachel
hovered
over
the
sick
child
,
and
between
her
own
exertions
and
those
of
two
maids
,
had
put
her
sister
into
an
evening
dress
by
the
time
the
first
carriage
arrived
.
She
then
rushed
to
her
own
room
,
made
her
own
toilette
,
and
returned
to
find
Rachel
in
conference
with
Mrs.
Kelland
,
who
had
come
home
at
last
,
and
was
to
sit
with
her
niece
during
the
dinner
.
Perhaps
it
was
as
well
for
all
parties
that
this
first
interview
was
cut
very
short
,
but
Rachel’s
burning
cheeks
did
not
promise
much
for
the
impression
of
ease
and
indifference
she
was
to
make
,
as
Grace’s
whispered
reminders
of
“
the
mother’s
”
distress
dragged
her
down
stairs
among
the
all
too
curious
glances
of
the
assembled
party
.
All
had
been
bustle
.
Not
one
moment
for
recollection
had
yet
been
Rachel’s
.
Mr.
Grey’s
words
,
“
Accountable
for
all
,
”
throbbed
in
her
ears
and
echoed
in
her
brain
—
the
purple
bruises
,
the
red
stripes
,
verging
upon
sores
,
were
before
her
eyes
,
and
the
lights
,
the
flowers
,
the
people
and
their
greetings
,
were
like
a
dizzy
mist
.
The
space
before
dinner
was
happily
but
brief
,
and
then
,
as
last
lady
,
she
came
in
as
a
supernumerary
on
the
other
arm
of
Grace’s
cavalier
,
and
taking
the
only
vacant
chair
,
found
herself
between
a
squire
and
Captain
Keith
,
who
had
duly
been
bestowed
on
Emily
Grey
.
Here
there
was
a
moment’s
interval
of
quiet
,
for
the
squire
was
slightly
deaf
,
and
,
moreover
,
regarded
her
as
a
little
pert
girl
,
not
to
be
encouraged
,
while
Captain
Keith
was
resigned
to
the
implied
homage
of
the
adorer
of
his
cross
;
so
that
,
though
the
buzz
of
talk
and
the
clatter
of
knives
and
forks
roared
louder
than
it
had
ever
seemed
to
do
since
she
had
been
a
child
,
listening
from
the
outside
,
the
immediate
sense
of
hurry
and
confusion
,
and
the
impossibility
of
seeing
or
hearing
anything
plainly
,
began
to
diminish
.
She
could
not
think
,
but
she
began
to
wonder
whether
any
one
knew
what
had
happened
;
and
,
above
all
,
she
perfectly
dreaded
the
quiet
sting
of
her
neighbour’s
word
and
eye
,
in
this
consummation
of
his
victory
.
If
he
glanced
at
her
,
she
knew
she
could
not
bear
it
;
and
if
he
never
spoke
to
her
at
all
,
it
would
be
marked
reprehension
,
which
would
be
far
better
than
sarcasm
.
He
was
evidently
conscious
of
her
presence
;
for
when
,
in
her
insatiable
thirst
,
she
had
drained
her
own
supply
of
water
,
she
found
the
little
bottle
quietly
exchanged
for
that
before
him
.
It
was
far
on
in
the
dinner
before
Emily’s
attention
was
claimed
by
the
gentleman
on
her
other
hand
,
and
then
there
was
a
space
of
silence
before
Captain
Keith
almost
made
Rachel
start
,
by
saying
—
“
This
has
come
about
far
more
painfully
than
could
have
been
expected
.
”
“
I
thought
you
would
have
triumphed
,
”
she
said
.
“
No
,
indeed
.
I
feel
accountable
for
the
introduction
that
my
sister
brought
upon
you
.
”
“
It
was
no
fault
of
hers
,
”
said
Rachel
,
sadly
.
“
I
wish
I
could
feel
it
so
.
”
“
That
was
a
mere
chance
.
The
rest
was
my
own
doing
.
”
“
Aided
and
abetted
by
more
than
one
looker-on
.
”
“
No.
It
is
I
who
am
accountable
,
”
she
said
,
repeating
Mr.
Grey’s
words
.
“
You
accept
the
whole
?
”
It
was
his
usual
,
cool
,
dry
tone
;
but
as
she
replied
,
“
I
must
,
”
she
involuntarily
looked
up
,
with
a
glance
of
entreaty
to
be
spared
,
and
she
met
those
dark
,
grey
,
heavy-lidded
eyes
fixed
on
her
with
so
much
concern
as
almost
to
unnerve
her
.
“
You
cannot
,
”
he
answered
;
“
every
bystander
must
rue
the
apathy
that
let
you
be
so
cruelly
deceived
,
for
want
of
exertion
on
their
part
.
”
“
Nay
,
”
she
said
;
“
you
tried
to
open
my
eyes
.
I
think
this
would
have
come
worse
,
but
for
this
morning’s
stroke
.
”
“
Thank
you
,
”
he
said
,
earnestly
.
“
I
daresay
you
know
more
than
I
have
been
able
to
understand
,
”
she
presently
added
;
“
it
is
like
being
in
the
middle
of
an
explosion
,
without
knowing
what
stands
or
falls
.
”
“
And
lobster
salad
as
an
aggravation
!
”
said
he
,
as
the
dish
successively
persecuted
them
.
“
This
dinner
is
hard
on
you
.
”
“
Very
;
but
my
mother
would
have
been
unhappy
if
I
had
stayed
away
.
It
is
the
leaving
the
poor
child
that
grieves
me
.
She
is
in
a
fearful
state
,
between
sore
throat
,
starvation
,
and
blows
.
”
The
picture
of
the
effect
of
the
blows
coming
before
Rachel
at
that
moment
,
perilled
her
ability
even
to
sit
through
the
dinner
;
but
her
companion
saw
the
suddening
whitening
of
her
cheek
,
and
by
a
dexterous
signal
at
once
caused
her
glass
to
be
filled
.
Habit
was
framing
her
lips
to
say
something
about
never
drinking
wine
;
but
somehow
she
felt
a
certain
compulsion
in
his
look
,
and
her
compliance
restored
her
.
She
returned
to
the
subject
,
saying
,
“
But
it
was
only
the
woman
that
was
cruel
.
”
“
She
had
not
her
Sepoy
face
for
nothing
.
”
“
Did
I
hear
that
Miss
Williams
knew
her
?
”
“
Yes
,
it
seems
she
was
a
maid
who
had
once
been
very
cruel
to
little
Rose
Williams
.
The
Colonel
seems
to
think
the
discovery
may
have
important
consequences
.
I
hardly
know
how
.
”
This
conversation
sent
Rachel
out
of
the
dining-room
more
like
herself
than
she
had
entered
it
;
but
she
ran
upstairs
at
once
to
Lovedy
,
and
remained
with
her
till
disinterred
by
the
desperate
Grace
,
who
could
not
see
three
people
talking
together
without
blushing
with
indignation
at
the
construction
they
were
certainly
putting
on
her
sister’s
scarlet
cheeks
and
absence
from
the
drawing-room
.
With
all
Grace’s
efforts
,
however
,
she
could
not
bring
her
truant
back
before
the
gentlemen
had
come
in
.
Captain
Keith
had
seen
their
entrance
,
and
soon
came
up
to
Rachel
.
“
How
is
your
patient
?
”
he
asked
.
“
She
is
very
ill
;
and
the
worst
of
it
is
,
that
it
seems
such
agony
to
her
to
attempt
to
swallow
.
”
“
Have
you
had
advice
for
her
?
”
“
No
;
I
have
often
treated
colds
,
and
I
thought
this
a
case
,
aggravated
by
that
wicked
treatment
.
”
“
Have
you
looked
into
her
mouth
?
”
“
Yes
;
the
skin
is
frightfully
brown
and
dry
.
”
He
leant
towards
her
,
and
asked
,
in
an
under
tone
—
“
Did
you
ever
see
diphtheria
?
”
“
No
!
”
—
her
brow
contracting
—
“
did
you
?
”
“
Yes
;
we
had
it
through
all
the
children
of
the
regiment
at
Woolwich
.
”
“
You
think
this
is
it
?
”
He
asked
a
few
more
questions
,
and
his
impression
was
evidently
confirmed
.
“
I
must
send
for
Mr.
Frampton
,
”
said
Rachel
,
homeopathy
succumbing
to
her
terror
;
but
then
,
with
a
despairing
glance
,
she
beheld
all
the
male
part
of
the
establishment
handing
tea
.
“
Where
does
he
live
?
I’ll
send
him
up
.
”
“
Thank
you
,
oh
!
thank
you
.
The
house
with
the
rails
,
under
the
east
cliff
.
”
He
was
gone
,
and
Rachel
endured
the
reeling
of
the
lights
,
and
the
surges
of
talk
,
and
the
musical
performances
that
seemed
to
burst
the
drum
of
her
ear
;
and
,
after
all
,
people
went
away
,
saying
to
each
other
that
there
was
something
very
much
amiss
,
and
that
poor
dear
Mrs.
Curtis
was
very
much
to
blame
for
not
having
controlled
her
daughters
.
They
departed
at
last
,
and
Grace
,
without
uttering
the
terrible
word
,
was
explaining
to
the
worn-out
mother
that
little
Lovedy
was
more
unwell
,
and
that
Captain
Keith
had
kindly
offered
to
fetch
the
doctor
,
when
the
Captain
himself
returned
.
“
I
am
sorry
to
say
that
Mr.
Frampton
is
out
,
not
likely
to
be
at
home
till
morning
,
and
his
partner
is
with
a
bad
accident
at
Avonford
.
The
best
plan
will
be
for
me
to
ride
back
to
Avoncester
,
and
send
out
Macvicar
,
our
doctor
.
He
is
a
kind-hearted
man
,
of
much
experience
in
this
kind
of
thing
.
”
“
But
you
are
not
going
back
,
”
said
polite
Mrs.
Curtis
,
far
from
taking
in
the
urgency
of
the
case
.
“
You
were
to
sleep
at
Colonel
Keith’s
.
I
could
not
think
of
your
taking
the
trouble
.
”
“
I
have
settled
that
with
the
Colonel
,
thank
you
.
My
dog-cart
will
be
here
directly
.
”
“
I
can
only
say
,
thank
you
,
”
said
Rachel
,
earnestly
.
“
But
is
there
nothing
to
be
done
in
the
meantime
?
Do
you
know
the
treatment
?
”
He
knew
enough
to
give
a
few
directions
,
which
revealed
to
poor
Mrs.
Curtis
the
character
of
the
disease
.
“
That
horrible
new
sore
throat
!
Oh
,
Rachel
,
and
you
have
been
hanging
over
her
all
this
time
!
”
“
Indeed
,
”
said
Alick
Keith
,
coming
to
her
.
“
I
think
you
need
not
be
alarmed
.
The
complaint
seems
to
me
to
depend
on
the
air
and
locality
.
I
have
been
often
with
people
who
had
it
.
”
“
And
not
caught
it
?
”
“
No
;
though
one
poor
little
fellow
,
our
piper’s
son
,
would
not
try
to
take
food
from
any
one
else
,
and
died
at
last
on
my
knee
.
I
do
not
believe
it
is
infectious
in
that
way
.
”
And
hearing
his
carriage
at
the
door
,
he
shook
hands
,
and
hurried
off
,
Mrs.
Curtis
observing
—
“
He
really
is
a
very
good
young
man
.
But
oh
,
Rachel
,
my
dear
,
how
could
you
bring
her
here
?
”
“
I
did
not
know
,
mother
.
Any
way
it
is
better
than
her
being
in
Mrs.
Kelland’s
hive
of
children
.
”
“
You
are
not
going
back
to
her
,
Rachel
,
I
entreat
!
”
“
Mother
,
I
must
.
You
heard
what
Captain
Keith
said
.
Let
that
comfort
you
.
It
would
be
brutal
cruelty
and
cowardice
to
stay
away
from
her
to
night
.
Good
night
,
Grace
,
make
mother
see
that
it
must
be
so
.
”
She
went
,
for
poor
Mrs.
Curtis
could
not
withstand
her
;
and
only
turned
with
tearful
eyes
to
her
elder
daughter
to
say
,
“
You
do
not
go
into
the
room
again
,
Grace
,
I
insist
.
”
Grace
could
not
bear
to
leave
Rachel
to
the
misery
of
such
a
vigil
,
and
greatly
reproached
herself
for
the
hurry
that
had
prevented
her
from
paying
any
heed
to
the
condition
of
the
child
in
her
anxiety
to
make
her
sister
presentable
;
but
Mrs.
Curtis
was
in
a
state
of
agitation
that
demanded
all
the
care
and
tenderness
of
this
“
mother’s
child
,
”
and
the
sharing
her
room
and
bed
made
it
impossible
to
elude
the
watchfulness
that
nervously
guarded
the
remaining
daughter
.
It
was
eleven
o’clock
when
Alexander
Keith
drove
from
the
door
.
It
was
a
moonlight
night
,
and
he
was
sure
to
spare
no
speed
,
but
he
could
hardly
be
at
Avoncester
within
an
hour
and
a
half
,
and
the
doctor
would
take
at
least
two
in
coming
out
.
Mrs.
Kelland
was
the
companion
of
Rachel’s
watch
.
The
woman
was
a
good
deal
subdued
.
The
strangeness
of
the
great
house
tamed
her
,
and
she
was
shocked
and
frightened
by
the
little
girl’s
state
as
well
as
by
the
young
lady’s
grave
,
awe-struck
,
and
silent
manner
.
They
tried
all
that
Captain
Keith
had
suggested
,
but
the
child
was
too
weak
and
spent
to
inhale
the
steam
of
vinegar
,
and
the
attempts
to
make
her
swallow
produced
fruitless
anguish
.
They
could
not
discover
how
long
it
was
since
she
had
taken
any
nourishment
,
and
they
already
knew
what
a
miserable
pittance
hers
had
been
at
the
best
.
Mrs.
Kelland
gave
her
up
at
once
,
and
protested
that
she
was
following
her
mother
,
and
that
there
was
death
in
her
face
.
Rachel
made
an
imperious
gesture
of
silence
,
and
was
obeyed
so
far
as
voice
went
,
but
long-drawn
sighs
and
shakes
of
the
head
continued
to
impress
on
her
the
aunt’s
hopelessness
,
throughout
the
endeavours
to
change
the
position
,
the
moistening
of
the
lips
,
the
attempts
at
relief
in
answer
to
the
choked
effort
to
cough
,
the
weary
,
faint
moan
,
the
increasing
faintness
and
exhaustion
.
One
o’clock
struck
,
and
Mrs.
Kelland
said
,
in
a
low
,
ominous
voice
,
“
It
is
the
turn
of
the
night
,
Miss
Rachel
.
You
bad
best
leave
her
to
me
.
”
“
I
will
never
leave
her
,
”
said
Rachel
impatiently
.
“
You
are
a
young
lady
,
Miss
Rachel
,
you
ain’t
used
to
the
like
of
this
.
”
“
Hark
!
”
Rachel
held
up
her
finger
.
Wheels
were
crashing
up
the
hill
.
The
horrible
responsibility
was
over
,
the
immediate
terror
gone
,
help
seemed
to
be
coming
at
the
utmost
speed
,
and
tears
of
relief
rushed
into
Rachel’s
eyes
,
tears
that
Lovedy
must
have
perceived
,
for
she
spoke
the
first
articulate
words
she
had
uttered
since
the
night-watch
had
begun
,
“
Please
,
ma’am
,
don’t
fret
,
I’m
going
to
poor
mother
.
”
“
You
will
be
better
now
,
Lovedy
,
here
is
the
doctor
,
”
said
Rachel
,
though
conscious
that
this
was
not
the
right
thing
,
and
then
she
hastened
out
on
the
stairs
to
meet
the
gaunt
old
Scotsman
and
bring
him
in
.
He
made
Mrs.
Kelland
raise
the
child
,
examined
her
mouth
,
felt
her
feet
and
hands
,
which
were
fast
becoming
chill
,
and
desired
the
warm
flannels
still
to
be
applied
to
them
.
“
Cannot
her
throat
be
operated
on
?
”
said
Rachel
,
a
tremor
within
her
heart
.
“
I
think
we
could
both
be
depended
on
if
you
wanted
us
.
”
“
She
is
too
far
gone
,
poor
lassie
,
”
was
the
answer
;
“
it
would
be
mere
cruelty
to
torment
her
.
You
had
better
go
and
lie
down
,
Miss
Curtis
;
her
mother
and
I
can
do
all
she
is
like
to
need
.
”
“
Is
she
dying
?
”
“
I
doubt
if
she
can
last
an
hour
longer
.
The
disease
is
in
an
advanced
state
,
and
she
was
in
too
reduced
a
state
to
have
battled
with
it
,
even
had
it
been
met
earlier
.
”
“
As
it
should
have
been
!
Twice
her
destroyer
!
”
sighed
Rachel
,
with
a
bursting
heart
,
and
again
the
kind
doctor
would
have
persuaded
her
to
leave
the
room
,
but
she
turned
from
him
and
came
back
to
Lovedy
,
who
had
been
roused
by
what
had
been
passing
,
and
had
been
murmuring
something
which
had
set
her
aunt
off
into
sobs
.
“
She’s
saying
she’ve
been
a
bad
girl
to
me
,
poor
lamb
,
and
I
tell
her
not
to
think
of
it
!
She
knows
it
was
for
her
good
,
if
she
had
not
been
set
against
her
work
.
”
Dr.
Macvicar
authoritatively
hushed
the
woman
,
but
Lovedy
looked
up
with
flushed
cheeks
,
and
the
blue
eyes
that
had
been
so
often
noticed
for
their
beauty
.
The
last
flush
of
fever
had
come
to
finish
the
work
.
“
Don’t
fret
,
”
she
said
,
“
there’s
no
one
to
beat
me
up
there
!
Please
,
the
verse
about
the
tears
.
”
Dr.
Macvicar
and
the
child
both
looked
towards
Rachel
,
but
her
whole
memory
seemed
scared
away
,
and
it
was
the
old
Scotch
army
surgeon
that
repeated
—
“
‘The
Lord
God
shall
wipe
off
tears
from
all
eyes.’
Ah
!
poor
little
one
,
you
are
going
from
a
world
that
has
been
full
of
woe
to
you
.
”
“
Oh
,
forgive
me
,
forgive
me
,
my
poor
child
,
”
said
Rachel
,
kneeling
by
her
,
the
tears
streaming
down
silently
.
“
Please
,
ma’am
,
don’t
cry
,
”
said
the
little
girl
feebly
;
“
you
were
very
good
to
me
.
Please
tell
me
of
my
Saviour
,
”
she
added
to
Rachel
.
It
sounded
like
set
phraseology
,
and
she
knew
not
how
to
begin
;
but
Dr.
Macvicar’s
answer
made
the
lightened
look
come
back
,
and
the
child
was
again
heard
to
whisper
—
“
Ah
!
I
knew
they
scourged
Him
—
for
me
.
”
This
was
the
last
they
did
hear
,
except
the
sobbing
breaths
,
ever
more
convulsive
.
Rachel
had
never
before
been
present
with
death
,
and
awe
and
dismay
seemed
to
paralyse
her
whole
frame
.
Even
the
words
of
hope
and
prayer
for
which
the
child’s
eyes
craved
from
both
her
fellow-watchers
seemed
to
her
a
strange
tongue
,
inefficient
to
reach
the
misery
of
this
untimely
mortal
agony
,
this
work
of
neglect
and
cruelty
—
and
she
the
cause
.
Three
o’clock
had
struck
before
the
last
painful
gasp
had
been
drawn
,
and
Mrs.
Kelland’s
sobbing
cry
broke
forth
.
Dr.
Macvicar
told
Rachel
that
the
child
was
at
rest
.
She
shivered
from
head
to
foot
,
her
teeth
chattered
,
and
she
murmured
,
“
Accountable
for
all
.
”
Dr.
Macvicar
at
once
made
her
swallow
some
of
the
cordial
brought
for
the
poor
child
,
and
then
summoning
the
maid
whom
Grace
had
stationed
in
the
outer
room
,
he
desired
her
to
put
her
young
mistress
to
bed
without
loss
of
time
.
The
sole
remaining
desire
of
which
she
was
conscious
was
to
be
alone
and
in
the
dark
,
and
she
passively
submitted
.
CHAPTER
XX
.
THE
SARACEN’S
HEAD
.
“
Alas
,
he
thought
,
how
changed
that
mien
,
How
changed
those
timid
looks
have
been
,
Since
years
of
guilt
and
of
disguise
Have
steeled
her
brow
and
armed
her
eyes
.
”
Marmion
.
“
Are
you
sleepy
,
Rose
?
What
a
yawn
!
”
“
Not
sleepy
,
Aunt
Ailie
;
only
it
is
such
a
tiresome
long
day
when
the
Colonel
does
not
come
in
.
”
“
Take
care
,
Rosie
;
I
don’t
know
what
we
shall
be
good
for
at
this
rate
.
”
“
We
?
O
Aunt
Ermine
,
then
you
think
it
tiresome
too
.
I
know
you
do
—
”
“
What’s
that
,
Rose
!
”
“
It
is
!
it
is
!
I’ll
open
the
door
for
him
.
”
The
next
moment
Rose
led
her
Colonel
in
triumph
into
the
lamp-light
.
There
was
a
bright
light
in
his
eye
,
and
yet
he
looked
pale
,
grave
,
and
worn
;
and
Ermine’s
first
observation
was
—
“
How
came
Tibbie
to
let
you
out
at
this
time
of
night
?
”
“
I
have
not
ventured
to
encounter
Tibbie
at
all
.
I
drove
up
to
your
door
.
”
“
You
have
been
at
St.
Norbert’s
all
this
time
,
”
exclaimed
Alison
.
“
Do
you
think
no
one
can
carry
on
a
campaign
at
St.
Norbert’s
but
yourself
and
your
generalissima
,
Miss
Ailie
?
”
he
said
,
stroking
down
Rose’s
brown
hair
.
“
Then
,
if
you
have
not
gone
home
,
you
have
had
nothing
to
eat
,
and
that
is
the
reason
you
look
so
tired
,
”
said
Ermine
.
“
Yes
;
I
had
some
luncheon
at
the
Abbey
.
”
“
Then
,
at
any
rate
,
you
shall
have
some
tea
.
Rosie
,
run
and
fetch
the
little
kettle
.
”
“
And
the
Beauchamp
cup
and
saucer
,
”
added
Rose
,
proudly
producing
the
single
relic
of
a
well-remembered
set
of
olden
times
.
“
And
please
,
please
,
Aunt
Ermine
,
let
me
sit
up
to
make
it
for
him
.
I
have
not
seen
him
all
day
,
you
know
;
and
it
is
the
first
time
he
ever
drank
tea
in
our
house
,
except
make-believe
with
Violetta
and
Colinette
.
”
“
No
,
Rose
.
Your
aunt
says
I
spoil
that
child
,
and
I
am
going
to
have
my
revenge
upon
you
.
You
must
see
the
wild
beast
at
his
meals
another
time
;
for
it
just
happens
that
I
have
a
good
deal
to
say
to
your
aunts
,
and
it
is
not
intended
for
your
ears
.
”
Rose
showed
no
signs
of
being
spoilt
,
for
she
only
entreated
to
be
allowed
“
just
to
put
the
tea-things
in
order
,
”
and
then
,
winking
very
hard
,
she
said
she
would
go
.
“
Here
,
Rose
,
if
you
please
,
”
said
Ermine
,
clearing
the
space
of
table
before
her
.
“
Why
,
Aunt
Ermine
,
I
did
not
know
you
could
make
tea
!
”
“
There
are
such
things
as
extraordinary
occasions
,
Rose
.
Now
,
good
night
,
my
sweet
one
.
”
“
Good
night
,
my
Lady
Discretion
.
We
will
make
up
for
it
one
of
these
days
.
Don’t
stay
away
,
pray
,
Ailie
,
”
as
Alison
was
following
the
child
.
“
I
have
nothing
to
say
till
you
come
back
.
”
“
I
know
it
is
good
news
,
”
said
Ermine
;
“
but
it
has
cost
you
something
,
Colin
.
”
Instead
of
answering
,
he
received
his
cup
from
her
,
filled
up
her
tea-pot
,
and
said
—
“
How
long
is
it
since
you
poured
out
tea
for
me
,
Ermine
?
”
“
Thirteen
years
next
June
,
when
you
and
Harry
used
to
come
in
from
the
cricket
field
,
so
late
and
hot
that
you
were
ashamed
to
present
yourself
in
civilized
society
at
the
Great
House
.
”
“
As
if
nobody
from
the
Parsonage
ever
came
down
to
look
on
at
the
cricket
.
”
“
Yes
;
being
summoned
by
all
the
boys
to
see
that
nothing
would
teach
a
Scotchman
cricket
.
”
“
Ah
!
you
have
got
the
last
word
,
for
here
comes
Ailie
.
”
“
Of
course
,
”
said
Alison
,
coming
in
;
“
Ermine
has
had
the
pith
of
the
story
,
so
I
had
better
ask
at
once
what
it
is
.
”
“
That
the
Beauchamp
Eleven
beat
Her
Majesty’s
—
th
Foot
on
Midsummer
Day
,
1846
,
is
the
pith
of
what
I
have
as
yet
heard
,
”
said
Ermine
.
“
And
that
Beauchamp
ladies
are
every
whit
as
full
of
mischief
as
they
used
to
be
in
those
days
,
is
the
sum
of
what
I
have
told
,
”
added
Colin
.
“
Yes
,
”
said
Ermine
,
“
he
has
most
loyally
kept
his
word
of
reserving
all
for
you
.
He
has
not
even
said
whether
Mauleverer
is
taken
.
”
“
My
story
is
grave
and
sad
enough
,
”
said
Colin
,
laying
aside
all
his
playfulness
,
and
a
serious
expression
coming
over
his
features
;
but
,
at
the
same
time
,
the
landlady’s
sandy
cat
,
which
,
like
all
other
animals
,
was
very
fond
of
him
,
and
had
established
herself
on
his
knee
as
soon
as
Rose
had
left
it
vacant
,
was
receiving
a
certain
firm
,
hard
,
caressing
stroking
,
which
resulted
in
vehement
purrs
on
her
part
,
and
was
evidently
an
outlet
of
suppressed
exaltation
.
“
Is
he
the
same
?
”
asked
Alison
.
“
All
in
due
time
;
unless
,
like
Miss
Rachel
,
you
wish
to
tell
me
my
story
yourselves
.
By-the-bye
,
how
is
that
poor
girl
to-day
?
”
“
Thoroughly
knocked
down
.
There
is
a
sort
of
feverish
lassitude
about
her
that
makes
them
very
anxious
.
They
were
hoping
to
persuade
her
to
see
Mr.
Frampton
when
Lady
Temple
heard
last
.
”
“
Poor
thing
!
it
has
been
a
sad
affair
for
her
.
Well
,
I
told
you
I
should
go
over
this
morning
and
see
Mr.
Grey
,
and
judge
if
anything
could
be
done
.
I
got
to
the
Abbey
at
about
eleven
o’clock
,
and
found
the
policeman
had
just
come
back
after
serving
the
summons
,
with
the
news
that
Mauleverer
was
gone
.
”
“
Gone
!
”
“
Clean
gone
!
Absconded
from
his
lodgings
,
and
left
no
traces
behind
him
.
But
,
as
to
the
poor
woman
,
the
policeman
reported
that
she
had
been
left
in
terrible
distress
,
with
the
child
extremely
ill
,
and
not
a
penny
,
not
a
thing
to
eat
in
the
house
.
He
came
back
to
ask
Mr.
Grey
what
was
to
be
done
;
and
as
the
suspicion
of
diphtheria
made
every
one
inclined
to
fight
shy
of
the
house
,
I
thought
I
had
better
go
down
and
see
what
was
to
be
done
.
I
knocked
a
good
while
in
vain
;
but
at
last
she
looked
out
of
window
,
and
I
told
her
I
only
wanted
to
know
what
could
be
done
for
her
child
,
and
would
send
a
doctor
.
Then
she
told
me
how
to
open
the
door
.
Poor
thing
!
I
found
her
the
picture
of
desolation
,
in
the
midst
of
the
dreary
kitchen
,
with
the
child
gasping
on
her
lap
;
all
the
pretence
of
widowhood
gone
,
and
her
hair
hanging
loose
about
her
face
,
which
was
quite
white
with
hunger
,
and
her
great
eyes
looked
wild
,
like
the
glare
of
a
wild
beast’s
in
a
den
.
I
spoke
to
her
by
her
own
name
,
and
she
started
and
trembled
,
and
said
,
‘Did
Miss
Alison
tell
you
?
’
I
said
,
‘Yes
,
’
and
explained
who
I
was
,
and
she
caught
me
up
half
way
:
‘O
yes
,
yes
,
my
lady’s
nephew
,
that
was
engaged
to
Miss
Ermine
!
’
And
she
looked
me
full
and
searchingly
in
the
face
,
Ermine
,
when
I
answered
‘Yes.’
Then
she
almost
sobbed
,
‘And
you
are
true
to
her
;
’
and
put
her
hands
over
her
face
in
an
agony
.
It
was
a
very
strange
examination
on
one’s
constancy
,
and
I
put
an
end
to
it
by
asking
if
she
had
any
friends
at
home
that
I
could
write
to
for
her
;
but
she
cast
that
notion
from
her
fiercely
,
and
said
she
had
no
friend
,
no
one
.
He
had
left
her
to
her
fate
,
because
the
child
was
too
ill
to
be
moved
.
And
indeed
the
poor
child
was
in
such
a
state
that
there
was
no
thinking
of
anything
else
,
and
I
went
at
once
to
find
a
doctor
and
a
nurse
.
”
“
Diphtheria
again
?
”
“
Yes
;
and
she
,
poor
thing
,
was
in
no
state
to
give
it
the
resolute
care
that
is
the
only
chance
.
Doctors
could
be
easily
found
,
but
I
was
at
my
wit’s
end
for
a
nurse
,
till
I
remembered
that
Mr.
Mitchell
had
told
me
of
a
Sisterhood
that
have
a
Home
at
St.
Norbert’s
,
with
a
nursing
establishment
attached
to
it
.
So
,
in
despair
,
I
went
there
,
and
begged
to
see
the
Superior
,
and
a
most
kind
and
sensible
lady
I
found
her
,
ready
to
do
anything
helpful
.
She
lent
me
a
nice
little
Sister
,
rather
young
,
I
thought
;
but
who
turned
out
thoroughly
efficient
,
nearly
as
good
as
a
doctor
.
Still
,
whether
the
child
lives
is
very
doubtful
,
though
the
mother
was
full
of
hope
when
I
went
in
last
.
She
insisted
that
I
had
saved
it
,
when
both
she
and
it
had
been
deserted
by
Maddox
,
for
whom
she
had
given
up
everything
.
”
“
Then
she
owned
that
he
was
Maddox
?
”
“
She
called
him
so
,
without
my
even
putting
the
question
to
her
.
She
had
played
his
game
long
enough
;
and
now
his
desertion
has
evidently
put
an
end
to
all
her
regard
for
him
.
It
was
confusedly
and
shortly
told
;
the
child
was
in
a
state
that
prevented
attention
being
given
to
anything
else
;
but
she
knows
that
she
had
been
made
a
tool
of
to
ruin
her
master
and
you
,
and
the
sight
of
you
,
Ailie
,
had
evidently
stirred
up
much
old
affection
,
and
remembrance
of
better
days
.
”
“
Is
she
his
wife
?
”
“
No
,
or
the
evidence
she
promises
could
not
be
used
against
him
.
Do
you
know
this
,
Ermine
?
”
as
he
gave
her
a
cover
,
with
a
seal
upon
it
.
“
The
Saracen
!
the
Saracen’s
head
,
Colin
;
it
was
made
with
the
lost
seal-ring
!
”
“
The
ring
was
taken
from
Edward’s
dressing-room
the
night
when
Rose
was
frightened
with
the
phosphorus
.
Maria
declares
that
she
did
not
suspect
the
theft
,
or
Maddox’s
purpose
,
till
long
after
she
had
left
her
place
.
He
effected
his
practices
under
pretence
of
attachment
to
her
,
and
then
could
not
shake
her
off
.
She
went
abroad
with
him
after
the
settlement
of
affairs
;
but
he
could
not
keep
out
of
gambling
speculation
,
and
lost
everything
.
Then
he
seems
to
have
larked
about
,
obtaining
means
she
knew
not
how
—
as
artist
,
lecturer
,
and
what
not
—
till
the
notable
F
.
U
.
E
.
E
.
was
started
.
Most
likely
he
would
have
collected
the
subscriptions
and
made
off
with
them
,
if
Rachel
Curtis
had
not
had
just
sense
enough
to
trust
him
with
nothing
without
seeing
some
result
,
so
that
he
was
forced
to
set
the
affair
going
with
Maria
at
its
head
,
as
the
only
person
who
could
co-operate
with
him
.
They
kept
themselves
ready
for
a
start
whenever
there
should
be
symptoms
of
a
discovery
,
but
,
in
the
meantime
,
he
gambled
away
all
that
he
got
into
his
hands
,
and
never
gave
her
enough
to
feed
the
children
.
Thus
she
was
absolutely
driven
to
force
work
from
them
for
subsistence
;
and
she
is
a
passionate
creature
,
whom
jealousy
embittered
more
and
more
,
so
that
she
became
more
savage
than
she
knew
.
Poor
thing
!
She
has
her
punishment
.
Maddox
only
came
home
,
yesterday
,
too
late
for
any
train
before
the
mail
,
and
by
that
time
the
child
was
too
ill
to
be
moved
.
He
must
have
thought
it
all
up
with
him
,
and
wished
to
be
rid
of
both
,
for
they
quarrelled
,
and
he
left
her
to
her
misery
.
”
“
What
,
gone
?
”
“
Yes
,
but
she
told
us
of
his
haunts
—
haunts
that
he
thought
she
did
not
know
—
a
fancy
shop
,
kept
by
a
Mrs.
Dench
at
Bristol
,
where
it
seems
that
he
plays
the
philanthropical
lecturer
,
and
probably
has
been
trying
to
secure
a
snug
berth
for
himself
unknown
,
as
he
thought
,
to
Maria
;
but
she
pried
into
his
letters
,
and
kept
a
keen
watch
upon
him
.
He
was
to
be
inquired
for
there
by
his
Mauleverer
name
,
and
,
I
have
little
doubt
,
will
be
captured
.
”
“
And
then
?
”
“
He
will
be
committed
for
trial
at
the
sessions
;
and
,
in
the
meantime
,
I
must
see
Beauchamp
and
Dr.
Long
,
and
arrange
that
he
should
be
prosecuted
for
the
forgery
,
even
though
he
should
slip
through
our
fingers
at
the
sessions
.
”
“
Oh
,
could
that
be
?
”
“
This
Clever
Woman
has
managed
matters
so
sweetly
,
that
they
might
just
as
well
try
her
as
him
for
obtaining
money
on
false
pretences
;
and
the
man
seems
to
have
been
wonderfully
sharp
in
avoiding
committing
himself
.
Mrs.
Curtis’s
man
of
business
has
been
trying
all
day
to
get
up
the
case
,
but
he
has
made
out
nothing
but
a
few
more
debts
such
as
that
which
turned
up
yesterday
;
and
it
is
very
doubtful
how
far
a
case
can
be
made
out
against
him
.
”
“
And
then
we
should
lose
him
.
”
“
That
is
exactly
what
I
wish
to
avoid
.
I
want
to
bring
up
my
forces
at
once
,
and
have
him
laid
hold
of
at
once
for
the
forgery
of
those
letters
of
Edward’s
.
How
long
would
it
take
to
hear
from
Ekaterinburg
?
I
suppose
Edward
could
travel
as
fast
as
a
letter
.
”
Alison
fairly
sprang
to
her
feet
.
“
O
,
Colin
,
Colin
!
you
do
not
think
that
Edward
would
be
here
by
the
next
sessions
.
”
“
He
ought
,
”
said
Colin
.
“
I
hope
to
induce
Dr.
Long
and
Harry
to
write
him
such
letters
as
to
bring
him
home
at
once
.
”
Self-restrained
Alison
was
fairly
overcome
.
She
stretched
out
both
hands
,
pressed
Colin’s
convulsively
,
then
turned
away
her
face
,
and
,
bursting
into
tears
,
ran
out
of
the
room
.
“
Poor
dear
Ailie
,
”
said
Ermine
;
“
she
has
suffered
terribly
.
Her
heart
is
full
of
Edward
.
Oh
,
I
hope
he
will
come
.
”
“
He
must
.
He
cannot
be
so
senseless
as
to
stay
away
.
”
“
There
is
that
unfortunate
promise
to
his
wife
;
and
I
fear
that
he
is
become
so
much
estranged
from
English
ways
that
he
will
hardly
care
to
set
himself
straight
here
,
after
the
pain
that
the
universal
suspicion
gave
him
.
”
“
He
cannot
but
care
.
For
the
sake
of
all
he
must
care
,
”
vehemently
repeated
Colin
,
with
the
punctilious
honour
of
the
nobly-born
soldier
.
“
For
his
child’s
sake
,
this
would
be
enough
to
bring
him
from
his
grave
.
If
he
refused
to
return
to
the
investigation
,
it
would
be
almost
enough
to
make
me
doubt
him
.
”
“
I
am
glad
you
said
almost
,
”
said
Ermine
,
trying
to
smile
;
but
he
had
absolutely
brought
tears
into
her
eyes
.
“
Dear
Ermine
,
”
he
said
,
gently
,
“
you
need
not
fear
my
not
trusting
him
to
the
utmost
.
I
know
that
he
has
been
too
much
crushed
to
revive
easily
,
and
that
it
may
not
be
easy
to
make
him
appreciate
our
hopes
from
such
a
distance
;
but
I
think
such
a
summons
as
this
must
bring
him
.
”
“
I
hope
it
will
,
”
said
Ermine
.
“
Otherwise
we
should
not
deserve
that
you
should
have
any
more
to
do
with
us
.
”
“
Ermine
,
Ermine
,
do
you
not
know
that
nothing
can
make
any
difference
between
us
?
”
Ermine
had
collected
herself
while
he
spoke
.
“
I
know
,
”
she
said
,
“
that
all
you
are
doing
makes
me
thank
and
bless
you
—
oh
!
more
than
I
can
speak
.
”
He
looked
wistfully
at
her
,
but
,
tearful
as
were
her
eyes
,
there
was
a
resolution
,
about
her
face
that
impressed
upon
him
that
she
trusted
to
his
promise
of
recurring
no
more
within
the
year
to
the
subject
so
near
his
heart
;
and
he
could
say
no
more
than
,
“
You
forgive
me
,
Ermine
,
you
know
I
trust
him
as
you
do
.
”
“
I
look
to
your
setting
him
above
being
only
trusted
,
”
said
Ermine
,
trying
to
smile
.
“
Oh
!
if
you
knew
what
this
ray
of
hope
is
in
the
dreary
darkness
that
has
lasted
so
long
!
”
Therewith
he
was
obliged
to
leave
her
,
and
she
only
saw
him
for
a
few
minutes
in
the
morning
,
when
he
hurried
in
to
take
leave
,
since
,
if
matters
went
right
at
the
magistrates’
bench
,
he
intended
to
proceed
at
once
to
make
such
representations
in
person
to
Mr.
Beauchamp
and
Dr.
Long
,
as
might
induce
them
to
send
an
urgent
recall
to
Edward
in
time
for
the
spring
sessions
,
and
for
this
no
time
must
be
lost
.
Ermine
remained
then
alone
with
Rose
,
feeling
the
day
strangely
long
and
lonely
,
and
that
,
perhaps
,
its
flatness
might
be
a
preparation
for
the
extinction
of
all
the
brightness
that
had
of
late
come
into
her
