Part 73 (1/1)

”What _do_ you mean?”

”Couldn't _we_ accompany her?”

Mrs. Willoughby s.n.a.t.c.hed away her hand.

”Are you mad?” she cried. ”I do believe the whole world's mad to-day.”

”Mad!” cried Dacres. ”Yes, I'm mad--insane--raving! Won't you be merciful again? Won't you, Kitty? Won't you 'humor' my ravings? Oh, do. Oh, Kitty! dear Kitty--!”

”It's positive insanity!”

”Oh, Kitty!”

”You're raving!”

”Won't you 'humor' me--just this once! only this once.”

”Hus.h.!.+ there they come,” said Mrs. Willoughby, suddenly s.n.a.t.c.hing away her hand, which Dacres had somehow got hold of again, and moving a little further away from him.

It was the Baron and Minnie who were coming back again, while Hawbury and Ethel were seen a little further away.

There they all stood--there, on the spot where they had found the crisis of their fortunes; and as they stood there the two clergymen, Catholic and Protestant, slowly came out of the house.

THE END.