'I spoke falsely of Dr. Shrapnel; I am the cause. It lies on me! it pursues me. Let me give to the poor as I may, and feel for the poor, as I do, to get nearer to Nevil--I cannot have peace! His heart has turned from me. He despises me. If I had spoken to Lord Romfrey at Steynham, as he commanded me, you and he--Oh! cowardice: he is right, cowardice is the chief evil in the world. He is ill; he is desperately ill; he will die.' 'Have you heard he is very ill, Lady Romfrey?' 'No! no!' Rosamund exclaimed; 'it is by not hearing that I know it!' With the assistance of Louise Devereux, Cecilia gradually awakened to what was going on in the house. There had been a correspondence between Miss Denham and the countess. Letters from Bevisham had suddenly ceased. Presumably the earl had stopped them: and if so it must have been for a tragic reason. Cecilia hinted some blame of Lord Romfrey to her father. He pressed her hand and said: 'You don't know what that man suffers. Romfrey is fond of Nevil too, but he must guard his wife; and the fact is Nevil is down with fever. It 's in the papers now; he may be able to conceal it, and I hope he will. There'll be a crisis, and then he can tell her good news--a little illness and all right now! Of course,' the colonel continued buoyantly, 'Nevil will recover; he's a tough wiry young fellow, but poor Romfrey's fears are natural enough about the countess. Her mind seems to be haunted by the doctor there--Shrapnel, I mean; and she's exciteable to a degree that threatens the worst--in case of any accident in Bevisham.' 'Is it not a kind of cowardice to conceal it?' Cecilia suggested. 'It saves her from fretting,' said the colonel. 'But she is fretting! If Lord Romfrey would confide in her and trust to her courage, papa, it would be best.' Colonel Halkett thought that Lord Romfrey was the judge.