‘Oh, Mr. Dulcimer is a very curious man in that respect. He never thinks the same as other people. He is convinced of Beatrix’s innocence, and says the Little Yafford people are a set of venomous idiots for condemning her. But say what he will, he cannot stem the tide of public opinion. The coroner’s verdict was so unsatisfactory.’ ‘What does Sir Kenrick think?’ asked Bella. ‘Oh, he and Mr. Dulcimer are of the same opinion.’ ‘Beatrix is too handsome to be condemned by gentlemen,’ said Bella, with unconscious venom. ‘Oh, my dear, that consideration would not affect Mr. Dulcimer, however it might influence Kenrick. The best thing she could do would be to marry Kenrick,’ pursued Mrs. Dulcimer, thoughtfully, ‘but I could never take the same interest in the match that I should have done a few months ago. In fact, I would rather not have act or part in it. If they were to marry, and Kenrick were to die suddenly--or under mysterious circumstances, and I had been the means of bringing about the marriage, I should feel myself a murderer.’ Mr. Dulcimer came in from his afternoon round at this moment. He nodded to Bella, and sank down with a fatigued air in the comfortable arm-chair that always stood ready for him in the snuggest corner of the hearth. ‘I have been to the Water House,’ he said, as if taking up the thread of his wife’s discourse. ‘Beatrix is very ill.’ ‘I am sorry to hear that.’ ‘I am more than sorry. These wretches will contrive to kill her before they have done. Namby says that her illness is entirely the result of mental disturbance. That monster Scales has gone off at a moment’s notice--after eating Harefield’s bread for fifteen years--and left that poor child to face this foul-mouthed world alone. She is ill--and with no one but servants about her. You ought to go and nurse her, Bella. She has been very good to you. I hope you are not a fair-weather friend, like the old man in the weather-glass, who only comes out when the sun is shining.’ ‘Oh, Mr. Dulcimer, how can you think so badly of me?’ remonstrated Bella. ‘I don’t wish to think badly about you. But you have rather deserted Beatrix lately, I have noticed.’ ‘Mrs. Piper is so exacting, and such an invalid.’ ‘Well, Beatrix is also an invalid now, and Mrs. Piper must give way a little. She has her husband and children to take care of her. Beatrix has no one. As soon as she is well enough to be moved I shall have her brought here.’ ‘Oh, Clement!’ exclaimed Mrs. Dulcimer, with a troubled look. ‘What do you mean by “Oh, Clement”? We have plenty of spare bedrooms. Providence, in denying us children, has balanced matters by giving us spare bedrooms.’ ‘Don’t you think people will talk if we have her here?’