"And why not?" returned Rachel. "There is not one of them would not be glad to see you. I know that." "I am afraid I should hinder their talk. Would they speak just as freely as if I were not there? Not that I know why they shouldn't," she added; "only the presence of any stranger--" "You are no stranger to Mr. Wingfold or my uncle," said Rachel, "and I daresay you know Mr. Drew?" "To tell you the truth, Miss Polwarth, I have not behaved as I should either to your uncle or Mr. Wingfold. I know it now that my brother is gone. They were so good to him! I feel now as if I had been possessed with an evil spirit. I could not bear them to be more to him than I was. Oh, how I should like to hear what they are saying! I feel as if I should get a glimpse of Leopold--almost, if I might. But I couldn't face them all together. I could not go into the room." Rachel was silent for a moment, thinking. Then she said: "I'll tell you what then: there's no occasion. Between my uncle's room and mine there's a little closet, where you shall sit and hear every word. Nothing will divide you from them but a few thin old boards." "That would hardly be honourable though--would it?" "I will answer for it. I shall tell my uncle afterwards. There may be cases where the motive makes the right or the wrong. It's not as if you were listening to find out secrets. I shall be in the room, and that will be a connecting link, you know: they never turn me out. Come now. We don't know what we may be losing." The desire to hear Leopold's best friends talk about him was strong in Helen, but her heart misgave her: was it not unbecoming? She would be in terror of discovery all the time. In the middle of the stair, she drew Rachel back and whispered, "I dare not do it." "Come on," said Rachel. "Hear what I shall say to them first. After that you shall do as you please." Evidently, so quick was her response, her thoughts had been going in the same direction as Helen's. "Thank you for trusting me," she added, as Helen again followed her. Arrived at the top, the one stood trembling, while the other went into the room. "Uncle," said Rachel, "I have a friend in the house who is very anxious to hear you and our friends speak your minds to each other, but for reasons does not wish to appear: will you allow my friend to listen without being seen?" "Is it your wish, Rachel, or are you only conveying the request of another?" asked her uncle. "It is my wish," answered Rachel. "I really desire it--if you do not mind." She looked from one to another as she spoke. The curate and the draper indicated a full acquiescence. "Do you know quite what you are about, Rachel?" asked Polwarth. "Perfectly, uncle," she answered. "There is no reason why you should not talk as freely as if you were talking only to me. I will put my friend in the closet, and you need never think that anyone is in the house but ourselves."