“Not for myself, good Mary, is this fear,” gasped she, “but for my dear ones--do you hear them yonder? is it not sad to listen to such mirth?--for this unhappy man being wronged, becomes a madman straightway. Not disgrace alone may fall upon us here, not only shame--think of that, Mary; not _only_ shame upon Sir Richard and the rest! but even Crime may visit us. This house of dead Sir Robert--once the home of peace, and genial ease, and hospitality----But that shall never be; no, they shall never meet, my sons and he; I will die rather, and my corpse would part them wide enough.” “O mistress, talk not so; you freeze my very blood. What was it we were saying before you began to look like this?” “You talked of bribing this Ralph Gavestone--for how could I offer him gold save _as_ a bribe! But if a bribe, what need was there to bribe him? Why should I wish him once more upon the other side of the world? Why pay him a younger brother's portion, to quit the courtship of my waiting-maid? No, Mary, this man is no mère rogue, that he should take his money without question, and be off; he is suspicious, keen--and ah, if wronged, as implacable as Death itself.” “One moment, my Lady!” cried Mistress Forest leaping to her feet. “I do believe I have a plan to get that letter back.” “Ah, good Heaven! What is it, wise, kind heart?” “See, madam,” and she began to reckon on her plump fingers, with her pleasant face aglow with mingled joy and astonishment at her own sagacity: “the note was put in late for the London post from Dalwynch; it will therefore remain there, though it has left Mirk, all to-night, and not be forwarded till the morning mail. If we drive over to-morrow early--starting, say, at six o'clock--we shall be in plenty of time to stop its going further. In the meantime, I will write another letter in its place.” “You have saved me--for this time--I do believe, dear Mary; yes, we can drive to Dalwynch--I will give orders for the carriage to be ready at six--and still be back at the Abbey by breakfast-time. If we are pressed for the reason, we can give the true one--to a certain point, if needs must be--you had a mind to alter what you have written to your suitor.” CHAPTER III. CONTRARY TO THE REGULATIONS OF HER MAJESTY'S POST-OFFICE.