Part 54 (2/2)

Again the bell clanged through the old hall, again I stood with beating heart waiting for the answer, for now I was nearing the great crisis of my life--at least, it seemed so to me then.

The old servant I had seen a year before met me, and despite the dim light recognised me in a second--joyfully, I thought.

”Mr. Trewinion, sir,” he said, quickly, ”walk in.”

Again I entered the house and with a fast beating heart.

”Is your mistress at home?” I said, hastily.

He looked up at me anxiously, I thought.

”Yes, sir,” he replied, ”she is at home; that is, sir, she is not at home now, but we expect her home every minute.”

”Has she been far away?”

”No, sir; oh, no, she's only gone to the village.”

”Do you know why?”

”Why, sir!” he said, looking at me strangely. ”She's not gone into the village exactly, but to a little cottage just outside. You see, sir, she's mighty good to the poor, and she do visit 'em and carry things to 'em.”

”Do you know the one she's gone to visit now?”

”Oh, yes, sir. She's a bedridden old woman. Mistress has been to see her many a time.”

”Did she walk or ride?”

”Walked, sir; you see, she couldn't ride to Mrs. Bray's, her cottage is among the fields, and there's no carriage road.”

”She is not gone alone?”

”No, sir,” said the man, evidently wondering more and more at my questions, ”one of the servants went with her to carry the basket.

”Have there been any callers here to-day?”

”No, sir, no one has been but Mrs. Bray's little maid, who came to say that her grandmother was worse.”

”Ah! You are sure it was Mrs. Bray's granddaughter; you know the maid?”

”Know her, sir! Of course, know'd her ever since she was a baby; you don't think that----”

”How long ago did this girl come?”

”About two hours, sir.”

”And how long since your mistress left?”

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