When Mrs. Marley was slightly more composed, raising herself on her hands that rested on the floor, and glaring like a wild beast at her consoler, she said hoarsely, 'Hearken to me!――on the night when every door was shut against me, then I would have thrown myself over the cliffs with Winefred in my arms. I would to God I had done as I purposed. Cursed be he who prevented me, cursed whether in heaven above or in hell beneath, for he is dead. But for him we should have been together now, together inseparable, for ever――in one deep sea, in one eternity. But now――――' She cast herself again with her face to the floor, and rocked from side to side in irrepressible grief. 'Jane,' said Mrs. Jose, 'you are in no condition to be left alone. Come with me to Bindon.' 'I will not.' 'Then I shall come here and stay the night with you. Compose yourself. I shall run home and fetch such things as I may require, and be with you in a jiffy.' The wretched mother tossed but made no reply. Mrs. Jose seated herself again, talked to her soothingly, till she considered that the first violence of her grief was over. Then she rose and proposed, 'Have a cup o' tea.' An hour later she had induced Jane to sit by the hearth. Then, convinced that she might quit her temporarily, she departed for Bindon to make such arrangements there as would be necessitated by her absence during the night. She was back again in three-quarters of an hour, but found the house locked and Jane gone, as she satisfied herself by looking through the window. In alarm she hurried home. 'Please, ma'am,' said the maid, 'just after you was gone that Mrs. Marley came here, looking wild-like, and she gave me this key and said it was that of the house, and that you was to take charge of it till she came again.' CHAPTER XXXIX THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night. She saw before her, by the flicker of the oil lamp overhead, a woman standing on the step. On asking her business, she answered, 'I want to see Winefred Holwood.' '_Miss_ Holwood,' said the maid, with emphasis. 'Miss Holwood is not at home. She has gone with our ladies to the Assembly Ball.' 'Assembly Ball! Where is that?' 'In the Assembly Rooms, of course.' 'But where are they?' 'Near the Circus.' 'How am I to find them?' 'You must go along Gay Street till you reach the Circus, then you turn to the right and see a building with pillars, between Bennett Street and Alfred Street.' 'I am a stranger in the place.' 'Can't you put off seeing Miss Holwood till to-morrow?' 'I cannot. I must see her. It is important.' 'What do you want with her?' 'I have come from Axmouth.'