Thisbe nodded from one to the other, and smiled as if there was not a trouble in the world. Then she stood rolling up her apron, and moistening her lips, as if there was something she wanted to say but hesitated. At last she went to Mrs Hallam's side, and took hold of the sleeve of her dress. "Let me go and ask Mr Bayle to take berths for you on board the first ship that's going to sail, and get taken away from this dreadful place." Mrs Hallam gazed at her wistfully, but did not answer for a few moments. "I must think, Thibs," she said. "_I_ must think; and now I cannot, for I feel as if I am stunned." "Then lie down a bit, my dear Miss Milly. Do, dear. She ought to, oughtn't she, Miss Julie? There, I knew she would. It's to make her strong." It was as if old girlish days had come back, for Mrs Hallam yielded with a sigh to the stronger will of the faithful old servant, letting her lift and lay her down, and closing her eyes with a weary sigh. "Now I may go to Mr Bayle, mayn't I?" "No," said Mrs Hallam sternly. "Then to Sir Gordon, and ask him to help us?" "No," said Mrs Hallam again; "I must work alone in this--and I will." She closed her eyes, and in a few minutes seemed to have dropped off asleep, when Thisbe signed to Julia to accompany her out of the room. "Don't you fret and trouble yourself, my darling," she whispered. "I'll take care no one comes and troubles you. She's worn out with suffering, and no doctor would do her good, or we'd soon have the best in the town. What she wants is rest and peace, and your dear loving hands to hold her. If anything will ease her that's it." She kissed Julia, and the next moment the girl's arms were clasped about her neck, and she sobbed upon her breast. "It's so terrible," she cried. "I can't bear it! I can't bear it! I tried so hard to love him, but--but--" "An angel with wings couldn't have loved such a father as that, my dear." "Thibs!" "Well, there, then, I won't say much, my darling; but don't you fret. You've both done quite right, for there's a pynte beyond which no one can go." "But if we could win him back to--" "Make you marry that man Crellock! Oh, my darling, there's no winning him back. I said nothing and stood by you both to let you try, and I was ready to forgive everything; but oh, my pet! I knew how bad it all was from the very first." "No, no, Thibs, you didn't think him guilty when he was sent out here." "Think, my dear! No: I knew it, and so did Sir Gordon and Mr Bayle, but for her sake they let her go on believing in him. Oh! my dear, only that there's you here, I want to know why such a man was ever allowed to live." "Thibs, he is my father," cried Julia angrily. "Yes, my dear, and there's no changing it, much as I've thought about it." Julia stood thinking. "I shall go to him," she said at last, "with you, and tell him why we have left him. I feel, Thibs, as if I must ask him to forgive me, for I am his child."