"She will not see me nor hear from me. She is ill and low-spirited, and Mrs. Barton tells me that a niece has come to look after her." "Isn't that rather a good thing?" "No: I don't like it. I saw one or two of those nieces--there are seven of them--great vulgar, managing women. I can't bear to think of my dear little Miss Crawford being bullied and nursed by Miss Price. She couldn't endure them, I know, only she was so fond of their mother." Percival changed the subject: "So you go to Mrs. Barton's still? I didn't know that till last Monday." "When you rescued Janie from imminent peril. Oh, I have heard," said Judith with a smile. "Please to describe me as risking my own life in the act. It would be a pity not to make me heroic while you are about it." "Janie would readily believe it. She measures her danger by her terror, which was great. But she is a dear, good child, and it is such a pleasure to me to go there every week!" "Ah! Then you are not happy at Miss Macgregor's?" "Well, not very. But it might be much worse. And I am mercenary enough to think about the money I earn at Mrs. Barton's," said Judith. "I don't mind telling you now that Bertie left two or three little bills unpaid when he went away, and I was very anxious about them. But, luckily, they were small." "You don't mind telling me now. Are they paid, then?" "Yes, and I have not heard of any more." "You paid them out of your earnings?" "Yes. You understand me, don't you, Mr. Thorne? Bertie and I were together then, and I could not take Emmeline's money to pay our debts." "Yes, I understand." "And I had saved a little. It is all right now, since they are all paid. I fancied there would be some more to come in, but it seems not, so I have a pound or two to spare, and I feel quite rich." It struck Percival that Judith had managed better than he had. "Do you ever hear from him?" he asked. "Yes. Mr. Nash has forgiven them." "Already?" Judith nodded: "He has, though I thought he never would. Bertie understood him better." (The truth was, that she had taken impotent rage for strength of purpose. Mr. Nash was aware that he had neglected his daughter, and was anxious to stifle the thought by laying the blame on every one else. And Bertie was quicker than Judith was in reading character when it was on his own level.) "He has forgiven them," Percival repeated with a smile. "Well, Bertie is a lucky fellow." "So is my father lucky, if that is luck." "Your father?" "Yes. He has written to me and to my aunt Lisle--at Rookleigh, you know. He has taken another name, and it seems he is getting on and making money: _he_ wanted to send me some too. And my aunt is angry with me because I would not go to her. She has given me two months to make up my mind in." "And you will not go?" "I cannot leave Brenthill," said Judith. "She is more than half inclined to forgive Bertie too. So I am alone; and yet I am right." She uttered the last words with lingering sadness.