"One minute first, aunt--you know there ain't a soul I can speak to but you, and I'm near mad with the weight of my secret at times." "You should take it quiet, girl--you fret o'er much. I really must leave you, Hetty; there's your uncle calling out to me." "One minute--you must answer my question first." "Well, well--what a girl you are! I'm glad you ain't my niece. Coming, Armitage. Now, Hetty, be quick. My man's temper ain't what it wor and I daren't cross 'im. Now what is it you want to say?" "It's this Aunt Fanny. Ef Mr. Robert is quite well--as well as ever he wor in his life--do you think he remembers?" "Not he. He'll never remember again. They never do." "But, aunt, they never get well, either." "That's true enough." "And they say he's quite well--as well as ever he was in all his life." "Well, Hetty I can say no more. We'll see to-night--you and me. You keep alongside of me in the avenue, and when he passes by in the carriage we'll look at him straight in the face and we'll soon know. You noticed, didn't you, how queer his eyes got since that dark night. It'll be fully light when they drive up to the Court, and you and me we'll look at him straight in the face and we'll know the worst then." "Yes, Aunt Fanny. Yes, I'll keep close to you." "Do, girl. Now I must be off. You can sit in the porch awhile and rest yourself. Coming, Armitage." Hetty stayed down at the inn through the remainder of the day. In the course of the evening Vincent strode in. She was in the humor to be sweet to him, and he was in high spirits at her unwonted words and looks of affection. The village presented a gayer and gayer spectacle as the hours went by. High good humor was the order of the day. Squire and Madam were returning. Things must go well in the future. Griffiths was seen riding up and down altering the plan of the decorations, giving orders in a stentorian voice. At last the time came when the villagers were to assemble, some of them outside their houses, some along the short bit of road which divided the village from the Court, some to line the avenue up to the Court itself. Hetty and Mrs. Armitage managed to keep together. George Vincent and Armitage preceded them at a little distance. They walked solemnly through the village street, Armitage pleased but anxious to return to the inn, Vincent thinking of Hetty, and vaguely wondering by what subtle means he could get her to love him, Hetty and Mrs. Armitage weighed down by the secret which had taken the sunshine out of both their lives. They made straight for the avenue, and presently stationed themselves just on the brow of a rising slope which commanded a view of the gates on one side and of the Court itself on the other.