‘She sat and shivered and moaned; but she could not speak. I saw him when he came, and told him that he must not see her any more, for she was married. I wasn’t able to tell him how it happened, for the sight of his face feared me so. It was like white stone, and his eyes were black. Before I could get my tongue again, he gave me a look that I can never forget, and walked away.... I found out where he was, some time afterwards, and wrote telling him all about it. He answered me, saying: “Thank you. I understand. God bless you all.” We never had another word direct from him; but we often heard about him; and some time after your mother went to rest, we learned that he had really got married; and the news pleased me vastly, for it helped me to think that maybe he was comfortable and resigned at last. I hope he is; but he has no family, and his sending for Philip looks as if he wants somebody to console him.’ ‘But who was it spread the lies about him at the first?’ ‘Ah, that we never knew. It was cleverly done; the story was in everybody’s mouth; but nobody could tell where it had come from.’ The feelings of Madge as she listened to her aunt were of a complicated nature: there was the painful sympathy evoked by the knowledge that it was her own mother who had been so wickedly deceived; then it seemed as if the events related had happened to some one else; and again there was a mysterious sense of awe as she recognised how closely the past and the present were linked together. Philip was the near relation of the man her mother had loved, and was to be parted from her on his account for an indefinite period. Who could tell what Fate might lie in this coincidence? She pitied the lovers; and her indignation rose to passion at thought of the slanderers who had caused them so much misery. Then came confused thoughts about her father: he, too, must have loved as well as Mr Shield; and he had been generous. Gentle hands were laid upon her bowed head, and looking up, she met the tender eyes of Aunt Hessy. ‘I have troubled you, child; but I have told you this so that you may understand why I cannot counsel you to bid Philip stay or go.’ A soft light beamed on Madge’s face; a sweet thought filled her heart. She would bid Philip go to help and comfort the man her mother had loved. CHAPTER X.—LIGHT AND SHADOW. As soon as she found that Madge was calm and ready to proceed with the duties of the day, Aunt Hessy bustled out to look after the maidens in the dairy and the kitchen. The other affairs of the house were attended to by Madge assisted by Jenny Wodrow, an active girl, who had wisely given up straw-plaiting at Luton for domestic service at Willowmere. When clearing the breakfast-table, Madge found Miss Hadleigh’s letter, which she had forgotten in the new interests and speculations excited by her aunt’s communication.