按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
sist on it。
This resolution formed； she lived on thorns； awaiting Henry Little's next visit。
He came next day； but she was out。
She asked the servant if he had said anything。
The servant said； 〃He seemed a good deal put out at first； miss； but afterward he said； 'No； it was all for the best。'〃
This was another blow。 Grace connected these words of Henry in some mysterious way with the anonymous letter； and spent the night crying： but in the morning； being a brave； high…spirited girl； she resolved to take a direct course； she would go down to the works； and request an explanation on the premises。 She would see the room where Henry was said to pass so many hours with Jael； and she would show him that the man she loved； and lived for； must place himself above suspicion； or lose her forever。 〃And if he quarrels with me for that；〃 she thought； 〃why； I can die。〃 She actually carried out her resolution； and went early next morning to the works to demand an explanation。 She took the letter with her。 As she went along she discussed in her own mind how she should proceed； and at last she resolved to just hand him the letter and fix her eye on him。 His face would tell her the truth。
She drove up to the great gate； there were a good many people about； talking； in excited groups。
The porter came out to her。 She said she wished to see Mr。 Little。
The porter stared： the people within hearing left off talking； and stared too； at her； and then at one another。
At last the porter found his voice。 〃Mr。 Little！ why； we can't find him anywhere； dead or alive。〃
Just then Ransome came out； and； seeing Miss Carden； gave a start； and looked much concerned。
Grace noticed this look； and her own face began to fill with surprise； and then with alarm。 〃Not to be found！〃 she faltered。
She did not know Mr。 Ransome； but he knew her； and he came to the carriage…window and said； in a low voice； 〃Miss Carden； I am the chief…constable。 I would advise you to return home。 The fact is； there has been an explosion here； and a young woman nearly killed。〃
〃Poor creature！ But Mr。 Little！ Oh； sir！ Oh； sir！〃
〃We can't find him；〃 said Ransome； solemnly： 〃and we fearwe sadly fear〃
Grace uttered a low cry； and then sat trembling。
Ransome tried to console her； said it was just possible he might have not slept in the works。
The porter shook his head。
Grace sprung from the carriage。 〃Show me the place；〃 said she； hoarsely。
Ransome demurred。 〃It is an ugly sight for any one to see。〃
〃Who has a better right to see it than I？ I shall find him if he is there。 Give me your arm： I have heard him speak of you。〃
Then Ransome yielded reluctantly； and took her to the place。
He showed her Henry's room； all rent and mutilated。
She shuddered； and； covering her face with her hands； leaned half fainting against her conductor； but soon she shook this off； and became inspired with strange energy； though her face was like marble。
She drew him； indeed almost dragged him； hither and thither； questioning him； and listening to everybody's conjectures； for there were loud groups here of work…people and towns…people。
Some thought he was buried under the great chimney in the river； others intimated plainly their fear that he was blown to atoms。
At each suggestion Grace Carden's whole body winced and quivered as if the words were sword cuts； but she would not be persuaded to retire。 〃No； no；〃 she cried； 〃amongst so many； some one will guess right。 I'll hear all they think； if I die on the spot： die！ What is life to me now？ Ah！ what is that woman saying？〃 And she hurried Ransome toward a work…woman who was haranguing several of her comrades。
The woman saw Ransome coming toward her with a strange lady。
〃Ah！〃 said she； 〃here's the constable。 Mr。 Ransome； will ye tell me where you found the lass； yesternight？〃
〃She was lying on that heap of bricks： I marked the place with two pieces of chalk； ay； here they are； her head lay here； and her feet here。〃
〃Well； then；〃 said the woman； 〃he will not be far from that place。 You clear away those bricks and rubbish； and you will find him underneath。 She was his sweetheart； that is well known here； and he was safe to be beside her when the place was blown up。〃
〃No such thing；〃 said Ransome； angrily； and casting a side…look at Grace。 〃She lay on the second floor； and Mr。 Little on the first floor。〃
〃Thou simple body；〃 said the woman。 〃What's a stair to a young man when a bonny lass lies awaiting him； and not a soul about？ They were a deal too close together all day； to be distant at night。〃
A murmur of assent burst at once from all the women。
Grace's body winced and quivered； but her marble face never stirred； nor did her lips utter a sound。
〃Come away from their scandalous tongues；〃 said Ransome； eagerly。
〃No；〃 said Grace； and such a 〃No。〃 It was like a statue uttering a chip of its own marble。
Then she stood quivering a moment； then； leaving Ransome's arm； she darted up to the place where Jael Dence had been found。
She stood like a bird on the broken masonry； and opened her beautiful eyes in a strange way； and demanded of all her senses whether the body of him she loved lay beneath her feet。
After a minute； during which every eye was riveted on her； she said； 〃I don't believe it； I don't feel him near me。 But I will know。〃
She took out her purse full of gold； and held it up to the women。 〃This for you； if you will help me。〃 Then； kneeling down； she began to tear up the bricks and throw them； one after another； as far as her strength permitted。 The effect on the work…women was electrical： they swarmed on the broken masonry； and began to clear it away brick by brick。 They worked with sympathetic fury； led by this fair creature； whose white hands were soon soiled and bloody； but never tired。 In less than an hour they had cleared away several wagon…loads of debris。
The body of Henry Little was not there。
Grace gave her purse to the women； and leaned heavily on Mr。 Ransome's arm again。 He supported her out of the works。
As soon as they were alone； she said； 〃Is Jael Dence alive or dead？〃
〃She was alive half an hour ago。〃
〃Where is she？〃
〃At the hospital。〃
〃Take me to the hospital。〃
He took her to the hospital； and soon they stood beside a clean little bed； in which lay the white but still comely face of Jael Dence： her luxuriant hair was cut close； and her head bandaged； but for her majestic form； she looked a fair； dying boy。
〃Stand back；〃 said Grace； 〃and let me speak to her。〃 Then she leaned over Jael； where she lay。
Gentle women are not all gentleness。 Watch them； especially in contact with their own sex； and you shall see now and then a trait of the wild animal。 Grace Carden at this moment was any thing but dove…like； it was more like a falcon the way she clutched the bedclothes； and towered over that prostrate figure； and then； descending slowly nearer and nearer； plunged her eyes into those fixed and staring orbs of Jael Dence。
So she remained riveted。 Had Jael been conscious； and culpable； nothing could have escaped a scrutiny so penetrating。
Even unconscious as she was； Jael's b