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the woman who had deceived him。 It meant that Sir Joseph's life still stood
between the man who had compassed his death and the money which the
man was resolved to have。 It meant that Richard Turlington was driven to
bay； and that the horror and the peril of the night were not at an end yet。）
Natalie and her aunt looked at each other across the bed on which Sir
Joseph lay。 He had fallen into a kind of doze； no enlightenment could
come to them from _him_。 They could only ask each other； with beating
hearts and baffled minds； what Richard's conduct meantthey could only
feel instinctively that some dreadful discovery was hanging over them。
The aunt was the calmer of the twothere was no secret weighing heavily
on _her_ conscience。 _She_ could feel the consolations of religion。 〃Our
dear one is spared to us； my love；〃 said the old lady； gently。 〃God has been
good to us。 We are in his hands。 If we know that； we know enough。〃
As she spoke there was a loud ring at the doorbell。 The women…
servants crowded into the bedroom in alarm。 Strong in numbers； and
encouraged by Nataliewho roused herself and led the way they
confronted the risk of opening the window and of venturing out on the
balcony which extended along that side of the house。 A man was dimly
visible below。 He called to them in thick； unsteady accents。 The servants
recognized him： he was the telegraphic messenger from the railway。 They
went down to speak to himand returned with a telegram which had been
pushed in under the door。 The distance from the station was considerable；
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the messenger had been 〃keeping Christmas〃 in more than one beer… shop
on his way to the house； and the delivery of the telegram had been delayed
for some hours。 It was addressed to Natalie。 She opened itlooked at it
dropped itand stood speechless； her lips parted in horror； her eyes staring
vacantly straight before her。
Miss Lavinia took the telegram from the floor； and read these lines：
〃Lady Winwood； Hertford Street； London。 To Natalie Graybrooke；
Church Meadows； Baxdale； Somersetshire。 Dreadful news。 R。 T。 has
discovered your marriage to Launce。 The truth has been kept from me till
to…day （24th）。 Instant flight with your husband is your only chance。 I
would have communicated with Launce； but I do not know his address。
You will receive this； I hope and believe； before R。 T。 can return to
Somersetshire。 Telegraph back； I entreat you； to say that you are safe。 I
shall follow my message if I do not hear from you in reasonable time。〃
Miss Lavinia lifted her gray head； and looked at her niece。 〃Is this
true？〃 she saidand pointed to the venerable face laid back； white； on the
white pillow of the bed。 Natalie sank forward as her eyes met the eyes of
her aunt。 Miss Lavinia saved her from falling insensible on the floor。
* * * * * * * * *
The confession had been made。 The words of penitence and the words
of pardon had been spoken。 The peaceful face of the father still lay hushed
in rest。 One by one the minutes succeeded each other uneventfully in the
deep tranquillity of the night。 It was almost a relief when the silence was
disturbed once more by another sound outside the house。 A pebble was
thrown up at the window； and a voice called out cautiously； 〃Miss
Lavinia！〃
They recognized the voice of the man…servant； and at once opened the
window。
He had something to say to the ladies in private。 How could he say it？
A domestic circumstance which had been marked by Launce； as favorable
to the contemplated elopement； was now noticed by the servant as lending
itself readily to effecting the necessary communication with the ladies。
The lock of the gardener's tool…house （in the shrubbery close by） was
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under repair； and the gardener's ladder was accessible to any one who
wanted it。 At the short height of the balcony from the ground； the ladder
was more than long enough for the purpose required。 In a few minutes the
servant had mounted to the balcony； and could speak to Natalie and her
aunt at the window。
〃I can't rest quiet；〃 said the man； 〃I'm off on the sly to see what's going
on down in the village。 It's hard on ladies like you to be locked in here。 Is
there anything I can do for either of you？〃
Natalie took up Lady Winwood's telegram。 〃Launce ought to see this；〃
she said to her aunt。 〃He will be here at daybreak；〃 she added； in a whisper；
〃if I don't tell him what has happened。〃
Miss Lavinia turned pale。 〃If he and Richard meet〃 she began。 〃Tell
him！〃 she added； hurriedly〃tell him before it is too late！〃
Natalie wrote a few lines （addressed to Launce in his assumed name at
his lodgings in the village） inclosing Lady Winwood's telegram； and
entreating him to do nothing rash。 When the servant had disappeared with
the letter； there was one hope in her mind and in her aunt's mind； which
each was ashamed to acknowledge to the other the hope that Launce
would face the very danger that they dreaded for him； and come to the
house。
They had not been long alone again； when Sir Joseph drowsily opened
his eyes and asked what they were doing in his room。 They told him
gently that he was ill。 He put his hand up to his head； and said they were
right； and so dropped off again into slumber。 Worn out by the emotions
through which they had passed； the two women silently waited for the
march of events。 The same stupor of resignation possessed them both。
They had secured the door and the window。 They had prayed together。
They had kissed the quiet face on the pillow。 They had said to each other；
〃We will live with him or die with him as God pleases。〃 Miss Lavinia sat
by the bedside。 Natalie was on a stool at her feetwith her eyes closed；
and her head on her aunt's knee。
Time went on。 The clock in the hall had struckten or eleven； they
were not sure whichwhen they heard the signal which warned them of
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