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He started at sight of her； and then she saw his eye fall with surprise on her gray dress。
〃Mr。 Bayne；〃 said she； 〃I am come to ask you a question or two。〃
〃Be seated； madam；〃 said Bayne； reverently。 〃I expected a visit from you or from your agent； and the accounts are all ready for your inspection。 I keep them as clear as possible。〃
〃I do not come here about accounts。 My son has perfect confidence in you； and so have I。〃
〃Thank you； madam； thank you kindly。 He did indeed honor me with his confidence； and with his friendship。 I am sure he was more like a brother to me than an employer。 Ah； madam！ I shall never； never； see his fellow again。〃 And honest Bayne turned away with his hand to his eyes。
This seemed to Mrs。 Little to be more than the occasion required； and did not tend to lessen her misgivings。 However； she said gravely； 〃Mr。 Bayne； I suppose you have heard there is to be a wedding in the town to…dayMiss Carden？〃
〃That is sudden！ No； madam； I didn't know it。 I can hardly believe it。〃
〃It is so。 She marries a Mr。 Coventry。 Now I think you were in my son's confidence； can you tell me whether there was any quarrel between him and Miss Carden before he left us？〃
〃Well； madam； I didn't see so much of him lately； he was always at the other works。 Would to heaven he had never seen them！ But I don't believe he ever gave that lady an unkind word。 He was not that sort。 He was ready of his hand against a man； but a very lamb with women he was。 And so she is going to marry？ Well； well； the world； it must go round。 She loved him dearly； too。 She was down at Bolt and Little's works day after day searching for him。 She spent money like water； poor thing！ I have seen her with her white face and great eyes watching the men drag the river for him； and； when that horrible thing was found at last； they say she was on the bridge and swooned dead away； and lay at death's door。 But you will know all this； madam； and it is sad for me to speak of； let alone you that are his mother。〃
The color died out of Mrs。 Little's cheek as he spoke； but； catching now a glimpse of the truth； she drew Bayne on with terrible cunning； and so learned that there had been a tremendous explosion； and Jael Dence taken up for dead； and that； some time after； an arm and a hand had been found in the river and recognized for the remains of Henry Little。
When she had got this out of the unwary Bayne she uttered a piercing scream； and her head hung over the chair； and her limbs writhed； and the whole creature seemed to wither up。
Then Bayne saw with dismay what he had done； and began to falter out expressions of regret。 She paid no attention。
He begged her to let him fetch her some salts or a cordial。
She shook her head and lay weak as water and white as a sheet。
At last she rose； and； supporting herself for a moment by the back of the chair； she said； 〃you will take me to see my son's remains。〃
〃Oh； for heaven's sake； don't think of it！〃
〃I must； I cannot keep away from them an instant。 And how else can I know they are his？ Do you think I will believe any eye but my own？ Come。〃
He had no power to disobey her。 He trembled in every limb at what was coming； but he handed her into her carriage； and went with her to the Town Hall。
When they brought her the tweed sleeves； she trembled like an aspen leaf。 When they brought her the glass receptacle； she seized Bayne by the shoulder and turned her head away。 By degrees she looked round； and seemed to stiffen all of a sudden。 〃It is not my son；〃 said she。
She rushed out of the place； bade Mr。 Bayne good…morning； and drove directly to Dr。 Amboyne。 She attacked him at once。 〃You have been deceiving me all this time about my son； and what am I the better？ What is anybody the better？ Now tell me the truth。 You think him dead？〃
（Dr。 Amboyne hung his head in alarm and confusion。）
〃Why do you think so？ Do you go by those remains？ I have seen them。 My child was vaccinated on the left arm； and carried the mark。 He had specks on two of his finger…nails； he had a small wart on his little finger； and his fingers were not blunt and uncouth； like that； they were as taper as any lady's in England； that hand is nothing like my son's； you are all blind； yet you must go and blind the only one who had eyes； the only one who really loved him； and whose opinion is worth a straw。〃
Dr。 Amboyne was too delighted at the news to feel these reproaches very deeply。 〃Thank God！〃 said he。 〃Scold me； for I deserve it。 But I did for the best； but； unfortunately； we have still to account for his writing to no one all this time。 No matter。 I begin to hope。 THAT was the worst evidence。 Edith； I must go to Woodbine Villa。 That poor girl must not marry in ignorance of this。 Believe me； she will never marry Coventry； if HE is alive。 Excuse my leaving you at such a time； but there is not a moment to be lost。〃
He placed her on a sofa； and opened the window； for； by a natural reaction； she was beginning to feel rather faint。 He gave his housekeeper strict orders to take care of her； then snatching his hat； went hastily out。
At the door he met the footman with several letters （he had a large correspondence）； shoved them pell…mell into his breast…pocket； shouted to a cabman stationed near； and drove off to Woodbine Villa。
It was rather up…hill； but he put his head out of the window and offered the driver a sovereign to go fast。 The man lashed his horse up the hill； and did go very fast； though it seemed slow to Dr。 Amboyne； because his wishes flew so much faster。
At last he got to the villa； and rang furiously。
After a delay that set the doctor stamping； Lally appeared。
〃I must see Miss Carden directly。〃
〃Step in； sir； she won't be long now。〃
Dr。 Amboyne walked into the dining…room； and saw it adorned with a wealth of flowers； and the wedding…breakfast set out with the usual splendor； but there was nobody there； and immediately an uneasy suspicion crossed his mind。
He came out into the passage； and found Lally there。
〃Are they gone to the church？〃
〃They are；〃 said Lally； with consummate coolness。
〃You Irish idiot！〃 roared the doctor； 〃why couldn't you tell me that before？〃 And； notwithstanding his ungainly figure； he ran down the road； shouting； like a Stentor； to his receding cabman。
〃Bekase I saw that every minute was goold；〃 said Lally； as soon as he was out of hearing。
The cabman； like most of his race； was rather deaf and a little blind； and Dr。 Amboyne was much heated and out of breath before he captured him。 He gasped out； 〃To St。 Peter's Church； for your life！〃
It was rather down…hill this time； and about a mile off。
In little more than five minutes the cab rattled up to the church door。
Dr。 Amboyne got out； told the man to wait； and entered the church with a rapid step。
Before he had gone far up the center aisle； he stopped。
Mr。 Coventry and Grace Carden were coming down the aisle together in wedding costume； the lady in her bridal veil。
They were followed by the bridemaids。
Dr。 Amboyne stared； and stepped aside into an open pew to let them pass。
They swept by； he looked after them；