"Aurora, I've known you" (how he longed to say "loved you," but those were not words for him to speak to Aurora Googe after thirty years of silence) "ever since you was sixteen and old Mr. Googe took you, an orphan girl, into his home; and I knew Louis Champney from the time he was the same age till he died. What I've seen, I've seen; and what I know, I know. Louis Champney loved you better'n he loved his life, and I know you loved him; but if the Almighty himself should swear it's true what Almeda Googe said, I wouldn't believe him--I wouldn't!" The terrible nervous strain from which the woman was suffering lessened under the influence of his speech. She leaned nearer. "It was not true," she whispered again; "I know you'll believe me." Her voice sounded weaker than before, and Octavius grew alarmed lest she have another of what Hannah termed a "sinking spell" then and there. He drew rein suddenly, and so tightly that the mare bounded forward and pulled at a forced pace up the hill to The Gore. "And she thought _that_ all these years--and I never knew. That's why she hates my boy and won't help--oh, how could she!" She shivered again. Octavius urged the mare to greater exertion. If only he could get the stricken woman home before she had another turn. "How could she?" he repeated with scathing emphasis; "just as any she-devil can set brooding on an evil thought for years till she's hatched out a devil's dozen of filthy lies." He drew the reins a little too tightly in his righteous wrath, and the mare reared suddenly. "What the dev--whoa, there Kitty, what you about?" He calmed the resentful beast, and they neared the house in The Gore at a quick trot. "You don't think she has ever spoken to any one before--not so, do you, Tave? not to Louis ever?--" "No, I don't, Aurora. Louis Champney wouldn't have stood that--I know him well enough for that; but she might have hinted at a something, and it's my belief she did. But don't you fret, Aurora; she'll never speak again--I'd take my oath on that--and if I dared, I'd say I wish Almighty God would strike her dumb for saying what she has." They had reached the house. She lifted her face to the light burning in her bedroom. "Oh, my boy--my boy--" she moaned beneath her breath. Octavius helped her out, and holding the reins in one hand, with the other supported her to the steps; her knees gave beneath her.--"Oh, where is he to-night--what shall I do!--Think for me, Tave, act for me, or I shall go mad--" Octavius leaned to the carriage and threw the reins around the whipstock. "Aurora," he grasped her firmly by the arm, "give me the key." She handed it to him; he opened the door; led her in; called loudly for Ellen; and when the frightened girl came hurrying down from her room, he bade her see to Mrs. Googe while he went for the doctor. XVII "The trouble is she has borne up too long."