The comparative light and warmth within, after the darkness and chilly damp of the spring evening, made her head reel, and her eyes at first could take in no object distinctly. She was conscious of uttering excited words, then she heard the door shut behind her. She looked round--she was alone with the Squire. She staggered up to him, and fell on her knees. "You must save me as I saved you long ago," she panted. "What is it? Get up. What do you mean?" said Awdrey. "I mean, Squire--oh! I mean I wanted to come to you to-day, but Vincent,"--her voice faltered--"Vincent were mad wi' jealousy. He thought that I ought not to see you, Squire; he had got summat in his brain, and it made him mad. He thought that, perhaps, long ago, Squire, I loved you--long ago. I'm not afeared to say anything to-night, the truth will out to-night--I loved you long ago, I love you still; yes, yes, with all my heart, with all my heart. You never cared nothin' for me, I know that well. You never did me a wrong in thought or in deed, I know that well also; but to me you were as a god, and I loved you, I love you still, and Vincent, my husband, he must have seen it in my face; but you did me no wrong--never, in word or in deed--only loved you--and I love you still." "You must be mad, girl," said Awdrey. "Why have you come here to tell me that? Get up at once; your words and your actions distress me much. Get up, Hetty; try to compose yourself." "What I have come to say had best be said kneeling," replied Hetty; "it eases the awful pain in my side to kneel. Let me be, Squire; let me kneel up against your father's desk. Ah! that's better. It is my heart--I think it's broke; anyhow, it beats awful, and the pain is awful." "If you have come for any other reason than to say the words you have just said, say them and go," replied Awdrey. Hetty glanced up at him. His face was hard, she thought it looked cruel, she shivered from head to foot. Was it for this man she had sacrificed her life? Then the awful significance of her errand came over her, and she proceeded to speak.