"Why didn't you speak to me yesterday, Mrs. Gillett?" he asked. "Were you afraid of Miss Dalzell, or Mr. Skaife? Both seem to my judgment good, excellent creatures, apart from the generality of the world, for they did not fear the contact with a fallen man; but I suppose I must not ask you----" He appeared to be seeking time or courage to speak his more earnest motive in seeking her. "Well," said she at last, hesitatingly, "I must speak it out, though you bid me not; so don't go to be offended, for I wouldn't hurt your feelings for the world; but them as does wrong, brings much on their children. You have been cruelly treated by your parents, to be left so long in----" "Mrs. Gillett!" he cried, rising in agitation, "even from you, my old friend, I cannot hear this. Do not let others lead your kind heart to do wrong, even in thought; some day _all_ shall know my mother as I do, or I will die in the struggle with her enemies." "Oh! don't do nothing of that sort," cried she, mistaking his meaning; "getting killed a'n't the way to right her; and this I will say, that a better lady never lived--and in the hearts of the poor; the best home to have, after all. But it a'n't a thing I'm component to judge, Master Miles; for foreigners, they say, don't see them things as we do." "Well," he replied, reseating himself, and passing his hand over his brow; "let's change the subject, it always pains me; but _her_ day of retribution will come--my sainted mother!" and involuntarily he raised his hat, in reverential awe, as if an angel were looking down upon him. "Don't be cast down, Master Miles," said the woman, "and don't talk on them miserable subj_ecs_, all in the dark here, as one may say; it makes one oncomfortable and queer. Now, tell me, what do you want with me?" "I want to see Miss Dalzell. Can you manage that for me?" "Mussiful powers! no," she exclaimed, in surprise and horror. "It must be accomplished somehow, Mrs. Gillett; see her I _must_." "Well, if I didn't think so!" she said, thinking aloud of what she had previously hinted to Sylvia. "Think what--what do you mean?" "Oh nothink, nothink--there, _do_ go; pray, do'e go!" she energetically cried, alarmed at the phantom her imagination had conjured up. "It won't do, depend upon it; _they_ would stir up the whole earth to find and punish you, if you did it; for she's the darling of all, and they'd all _ignite_ against you--lawyer, parson, squire, master, mississes, and all!" "In the name of patience, my good Mrs. Gillett, what _do_ you mean?" he asked laughing. "Why, I saw it--I said it--I knew it--though I ain't a Dippibus, as master calls fortune-tellers; but don't go any farther--leave off where you are!" and she crunched up her cap in her energy. "Are you mad?" he exclaimed, securing her reckless hands. "I tell you I _must_ see Miss Dalzell, if only for a moment. I have a message for her."