"Well, my lady, I thought I said pretty plain it was about my Lady Jane, the pretty creature you had on visits here, and liked so well, poor thing; an' it seemed to me she's like to be in danger where she is. I can't explain how exactly; but General Lennox is gone up to London, and I think, my lady, you ought to get her out of that unlucky room, where he has put her; and, at all events, to keep as near to her as you can yourself, at _all_ times." "I've listened to you, Donica, and I can't comprehend you. I see you are hinting at something; but unless you are explicit, I don't see that I can be of any earthly use." "You can, my lady--that is, you _may_, if you only do as I say--I _can't_ explain it more, nor I _won't_," said Donica, peremptorily, perhaps bitterly. "There can be no good reason, Donica, for reserve upon a point of so much moment as you describe this to be. Wherever reserve exists there is mystery, and wherever mystery--_guilt_." So said Lady Alice, who was gifted with a spirit of inquiry which was impatient of disappointment. "Guilt, indeed!" repeated Gwynn, in an under-key, with a toss of her head and a very white face; "there's secrets enough in the world, and no guilt along of 'em." "What room is it you speak of--the green chamber, is not it?" "Yes, sure, my lady." "I think you are all crazed about ghosts and devils over there," exclaimed Lady Alice. "Not much of ghosts, but devils, maybe," muttered Gwynn, oddly, looking sidelong over the floor. "It is that room, you say," repeated Lady Alice. "Yes, my lady, the green chamber." "Well, what about it--come, woman, did not you sleep for years in that room?" "Ay, my lady, a good while." "And what did you see there?" "A deal." "_What_, I say?" "Well, supposin' I was to say devils," replied Donica. Lady Alice sneered. "What did poor Lady Marlowe see there?" demanded Donica, looking with her odd eyes askance at Lady Alice's carpet, and backing her question with a nod. "Well, you know I never heard exactly; but my darling creature was, as you remember, dying of a consumption at the time, and miserably nervous, and fancied things, no doubt, as people do." "Well, she did; I knew it," said Donica. "You may have conjectured--every one can do that; but I rather think my poor dear Amy would have told _me_, had she cared to divulge it to any living being. I am persuaded she herself suspected it was an illusion--fancy; but I know she had a horror of the room, and I am sure my poor girl's dying request ought to have been respected."