Which Lord Darsham finally agreed to do, and then left the revelation to Mrs. Mortomley. "She must be told, and at once," thought Dolly, as she dragged wearily up the staircase, to find Mrs. Werner sitting in her widow's weeds, all alone. "Lenny," she began, "I want to speak to you very seriously. I think you ought to go back to Dassell without any unnecessary delay." Mrs. Werner half rose from her seat. "Are any of the children ill," she asked, "or is it my mother?" "Your mother is well as far as I know," answered Mrs. Mortomley, "and so are the children; but there are evils almost as hard to bear as illness, and--" "You know, Dolly, I can bear anything better than suspense," said Mrs. Werner. "I know nothing of the kind," was the reply. "My own impression is, you or any woman could endure suspense better than bad news, and my news is bad." "What is it like?" "It is very like a change of fortune," answered Mrs. Mortomley. "Did it never occur to you, Lenny, that of late you have been living at a tremendous rate?" "I was aware we spent a considerable sum of money," said Mrs. Werner; "but Mr. Werner wished it; and his business was good, and--" "My dear," interrupted Dolly, "his business, poor man, was not good. He was forced to keep up an appearance in order to preserve his credit, and he was far from being rich when he died." "You are not in earnest?" asked Mrs. Werner, an expression of horror coming into her face, for which her friend knew too well how to account; then added, "Oh! Dolly, tell me the worst at once?" "I do not know either the best or the worst myself yet," was the answer. "Only of one thing I am certain, that you and the children are not left so well off as we might have hoped would be the case." "That was what Charley came to tell me a little while since," remarked Mrs. Werner. "Yes, his heart failed him as mine would have done, Leonora, but I felt you ought to know." "Dolly, do you think this had anything to do with his death?" asked Mrs. Werner, so suddenly that the question taking Dolly unprepared she stood mute, unable to answer. "You _do_ think so then?" said Mrs. Werner. "I only think, remember, Leonora. God alone knows." "Leave me," entreated the miserable woman. "I will try to bear it, but, oh! leave me to bear it alone." Dolly crept down to the drawing-room, where Lord Darsham anxiously awaited her return. "Have you told her?" he asked. "Has she decided on her future plans?" "I have told her as much as I can tell her at present," was the reply. "When she has recovered a little from the shock, she will form her plans, no doubt. Meantime, my Lord, I think I could help you, and Leonora too, if you would tell me your plans with regard to your cousin and her family."