"Aunt Priscilla, you must excuse me," said Calista, decidedly. "I am not going home with you. I wish I could, but you yourself have made it impossible. What did you think would ever become of me if I had not found a way of escaping, when you shut me up in the old house to stay without light or food all night?" "I didn't stay away all night," said Miss Priscilla. "But you meant to, aunt, or else why did you send Chloe into town to stay with her sister?" "I should like to know how you got out, that's all!" said Miss Priscilla. "A way was made for me. No, aunt, I cannot go back at present, if for no other reason than that you allow that woman to come about the place, and have dealings with her. Oh, aunt, don't!" exclaimed Calista. "Please don't! I am sure nothing but harm can come of it. Even if you found the money—if it is not all a cheat and delusion, as I believe it is—what good would it do you? You must soon leave it, even if it does not leave you. Just think how short this life is, and how long eternity is; do think of your immortal soul!" "Nonsense! I am not to be scared by Methodistical cant," said Miss Priscilla, though she trembled visibly. "But if you are absolutely determined to put yourself into the hands of these people, who will turn you out helpless on the world just as soon as they have stripped you of everything, do so. I wash my hands of you. And when you are stripped and turned out, or kept to clean floors and black shoes for that proud fool of a woman, don't come back to me. I wash my hands of you. It was a bad day for me when I first took you out of the poor-house. Don't come back to me. I don't like snakes!" A part of this amiable speech was intended for the ears of Mrs. Fabian, whose presence in the next room Miss Priscilla suspected, though she did not see her. But Mrs. Fabian, calmly superior, worked on at her lace collar, and smiled. She knew the strength that lay in silence. "Shall I get you the cloak, aunt?" "Yes; I don't choose that my dead father's clothes should be in such hands. And do not call me 'aunt,' if you please. I acknowledge no relationship to you any more." Miss Priscilla departed, and crossed the road to Mr. Settson's office, from which she was seen to issue after a somewhat lengthened conference, followed by Mr. Settson with a large tin box, which he placed carefully in the chaise. Rejecting the gentleman's assistance, Miss Priscilla unfastened Jeff, the pony, and drove out of Cohansey town, never to enter its streets again.