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t for Eastbank she was discharged as cured； and left the hospital。 This was in the morning。
In the afternoon Dr。 Amboyne； being now relieved of his anxiety as to Grace； remembered he had not been to see this poor girl for some time； so he went to the hospital。
When he heard she was discharged； he felt annoyed with himself for not having paid her closer attention。 And besides； Grace had repeatedly told him Jael Dence could make a revelation if she chose。 And now； occupied with Grace herself； he had neglected her wishes。
〃Where is she gone？ do you know？〃
One of the nurses said she was gone home。
Another said the patient had told her she should go down to the works first。
〃And that is the very last place you should have let her go to；〃 said the doctor。 〃A fine shock the poor creature will get there。 You want her back here again； I suppose！〃 He felt uneasy； and drove down to the works。 There he made some inquiries among the women； and elicited that Jael Dence had turned faint at sight of the place； and they had shown her； at her request； where she had been picked up； and had told her about the discovery of Little's remains； and she had persuaded a little girl to go to the town hall with her。
〃Oh； the tongue！ the tongue！〃 groaned Amboyne。
He asked to see the little girl； and she came forward of her own accord； and told him she had gone to the town hall with the lass； 〃but〃 （regretfully） 〃that the man would not show them it without an order from the Mayor。〃
〃IT！〃
Dr。 Amboyne said he was very glad that common sense had not quite deserted the earth。 〃And where did you go next？〃
〃I came back here。〃
〃So I see； but the lass？〃
〃She said she should go home。 'My dear；' says she； 'there's nobody left me here； I'll go and die among my own folk。' That was her word。〃
〃Poor thing！ poor thing！ Why〃
He stopped short； for that moment he remembered Raby had said old Dence was dead； and Patty gone to Australia。 If so； here was another blow in store for poor Jael； and she weakened by a long illness。
He instantly resolved to drive after her； and see whether she was really in a fit state to encounter so many terrible shocks。 If not； he should take her back to the infirmary； or into his own house； for he had a great respect for her； and indeed for all her family。
He drove fast； but he could see nothing of her on the road。 So then he went on to Cairnhope。
He stopped at the farm…house。 It was sadly deteriorated in appearance。 Inside he found only an old carter and his daughter。 The place was in their charge。
The old man told him apathetically Jael had come home two hours ago and asked for her father and Patty； and they had told her the old farmer was dead and buried； and Patty gone to foreign parts。
〃What； you blurted it out like that！ You couldn't put yourself in that poor creature's place； and think what a blow it would be？ How； in Heaven's name； did she take it？〃
〃Well； sir； she stared a bit； and looked stupid…like； and then she sat down。 She sat crowded all together like in yon corner best part of an hour； and then she got up and said she must go and see his grave。〃
〃You hadn't the sense to make her eat； of course？〃
〃My girl here set meat afore her； but she couldn't taste it。〃
Dr。 Amboyne drove to Raby Hall and told Raby。 Raby said he would have Jael up to the hall。 It would be a better place for her now than the farm。 He ordered a room to be got ready for her； and a large fire lighted； and at the same time ordered the best bedroom for Dr。 Amboyne。 〃You must dine and sleep here；〃 said he； 〃and talk of old times。〃
Dr。 Amboyne thanked himit was dusk by this timeand was soon seated at that hospitable table； with a huge wood fire blazing genially。
Meantime Jael Dence sat crouched upon her father's grave； stupefied with grief。 When she had crouched there a long time she got up； and muttered； 〃Dead and gone！ dead and gone！〃
Then she crept up to the old church； and sat down in the porch； benumbed with grief； and still a little confused in her poor head。
She sat there for nearly two hours； and then she got up； and muttered； 〃Dead and gonehe is dead and gone！〃 and wandered on the hill desolate。
Her feet wandered； her brain wandered。 She found herself at last in a place she recognized。 It was Squire Raby's lawn。 The moon had just risen； and shone on the turf； and on the little river that went curling round with here and there a deep pool。
She crept nearer； and saw the great bay…window； and a blaze of light behind it。
There she had sung the great Noel with her father； and now he was dead and gone。
There she had been with Henry Little； and seen him recognize his mother's picture； and now he was dead and gone。 She had saved his life in vain； he was dead and gone。 Every body was dead and gone。
She looked up at the glowing window。 She looked down at the pool； with the moon kissing it。
She flung her arms up with a scream of agony； and sunk into the deep pool； where the moon seemed most to smile on it。
Directly after dinner Dr。 Amboyne asked to see the unhappy correspondence of which he was to be the judge。
Raby went for the letters； and laid them before him。 He took up the fatal letter。 〃Why； this is not written by Mrs。 Little。 I know her neat Italian hand too well。 See how the letters slant and straggle。〃
〃Oh！ but you must allow for the writer's agitation。〃
〃Why should I allow for it？ YOU DIDN'T。 Who can look at this scrawl； and not see that the poor heart…broken creature was not herself when she wrote it？ This is not a letter； it is a mere scream of agony。 Put yourself in her place。 Imagine yourself a womana creature in whom the feelings overpower the judgment。 Consider the shock； the wound； the frenzy； and； besides； she had no idea that you left this house to get her husband the money from your own funds。〃
〃She never shall know it either。〃
〃She does know it。 I have told her。 And； poor thing； she thinks she was the only one to blame。 She seeks your forgiveness。 She pines for it。 This is the true cause of her illness； and I believe； if you could forgive her and love her； it might yet save her life。〃
〃Then tell her I blame myself as much as her。 Tell her my house； my arms； and my heart are open to her。 Amboyne； you are a true friend； and a worthy man。 God bless you。 How shall we get her here； poor soul？ Will you go for her； or shall I？〃
〃Let me sleep on that；〃 said Dr。 Amboyne。
In the course of the evening； Dr。 Amboyne told Raby all the reports about Jael Dence and Henry Little。
〃What does that matter now？〃 said Raby； with a sigh。
Whenever a servant came into the room； Amboyne asked him if Jael had arrived。
Raby shared his curiosity； but not his anxiety。 〃The girl knows her friends；〃 said he。 〃She will have her cry out； you may depend； but after that she will find her way here； and； when she has got over it a little； I shall be sure to learn from her whether he was her lover； and where he was when the place was blown up。 A Dence never lies to a Raby。〃
But when nine o'clock struck； and there were no tidings of her； Raby began to share the doctor's uneasiness； and also to be rather