Mr. Beeminster, without replying, quietly left the room. CHAPTER IX. FRED CORNWALL TO THE RESCUE. So overwhelming was Aunt Leth's despair after Mr. Beeminster's departure that she almost lost her senses. She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts. She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door. The interruption had a salutary effect upon her; it caused her to start to her feet, and to become sensible to what was actually occurring. What did that knocking portend? Some fresh calamity? "Fred! Fred!" she cried. He hastened into the room, and she fell into his arms, and sobbed there hysterically. "Aunt Leth! Aunt Leth!" said Fred, in a soothing tone. "There, there, be calm! You have heard the dreadful news, then?" "And you," whispered Aunt Leth, amazed that he should be so cool: his voice was solemn, it is true, but there was in it no note of despair: "you know all?" "All," he replied. "I bought a newspaper, and came here at once. Has Phoebe been told?" "No." "My poor girl!" said Fred. "How will she bear it?" "What paper did you buy?" asked Aunt Leth, bewildered by his manner. He gave it to her, and wiping the tears from her eyes and looking at the column he pointed out, she saw that it was a different newspaper from that which Mr. Beeminster had brought with him. Fred's newspaper contained the simple announcement that Miser Farebrother had been found dead in his grounds at Parksides under such circumstances as would lead to the belief that he had been murdered. "You do not know the worst," said Aunt Leth; and then, in as calm a voice as she could command, she related what had occurred. He listened in horror and amazement. Until this moment he had been ignorant of Phoebe's visit to Parksides on the previous night, and of her return to Camden Town at ten o'clock that morning; and he instantly saw that his darling girl was in peril. The name of the paper from which Mr. Beeminster had read the account of the murder was being called in the street by a newspaper boy, and Fred darted out and purchased a copy. After perusing the report he remained quiet for a minute or two, with his head resting in his hand. "We must be calm, Aunt Leth," he said. "There is in this paper the first notes of a terrible accusation against our dear girl. It is due to Mrs. Pamflett's malice. She shall be punished for it--she and her infamous son!" "You will protect Phoebe!" implored Aunt Leth, laying her hand on Fred's arm. "You will save her!"