‘And why should she not be alone,’ another voice cried, sharp and piercing, the voice of Tina Gillan, though it seemed strangely altered now; ‘what other man on earth would have behaved as honourably to her as you have done? You only ask her to wait--you offer to pay her an allowance--and this wretched village girl must stand on her dignity--this detestable hussy, who should feel herself too much honoured in having her name linked to that of a gentleman! Mr Lee has asked us .... let us hasten off to him .... when we leave this vile village all will be well with us.’ ‘It ought to be well,’ the other voice replied, in a whisper that appeared to hiss through the night, ‘though for other reasons besides that of the hussy of whom you speak with so little reserve to me.... Mr Lee has been talking to the Squire about that letter .... the letter that you opened, though you would not tell me till last night .... and the Squire would have made a tempest about it before now, only that he has not been willing to accuse the boy. If the matter is inquired into, and your dear Nat betrays you, I would not give much for your chance with Mr Lee.’ ‘He will not betray me--he dare not!’ cried the other, with a stamp that echoed upon the frosty ground .... ‘it would not save him from ruin if he did, and he would be afraid to do any harm to me! Let us go to Mr Lee; when we are once inside his house, the village and the Salters may look out for themselves.’ Her voice had risen, and her companion appeared to check it, to draw her away, to speak in lower tones; through the darkness came the sound of their retreating footsteps, like echoes becoming fainter in the night. It seemed to Jenny as if her brain were ringing, as if flakes of fire fell and shone before her eyes; when she lifted her head giddiness overpowered her, and she could not attempt to follow them or rise. Her head fell, she caught at the basket for support, and into the blackness that followed all sank, and all was lost.... A rumbling cart roused her, and once more she raised her head; the cart had gone by and she was alone in the night; the moon was shining above the houses in the village; there were no whispers now in the dark field by her side. Had she been dreaming, was all she had heard a fancy, what ought she to think of it, what should she do? She was weak from exhaustion, and stiff with pain and cold, it seemed almost impossible to rise; but the tension of her brain made it clear, and keen, and steady, as the eyes of a brave man who sees a danger near. With resolute movements she rose up to her feet, remained still for an instant to control her shaking limbs; and then, with a motion every moment rendered stronger, set off through the darkness in the direction of her home. If her children had been prevailed upon to keep their danger secret, she knew now what to ask them, and they should answer her.