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〃And what have you been？〃 returned Mr。 Ebenezer； a quiet tone of meaning running through his good…humored laughter。
Afy's cheeks flushed scarlet； and she raised her hand with a quick； menacing gesture。 But that they were in the public street Mr。 Ebenezer might have found his ears boxed。 Afy dropped her hand again； and made a dead standstill。
〃If you think any vile； false insinuations that you may concoct will injure me； you are mistaken； Ebenezer James。 I am too much respected in the place。 So don't try it on。〃
〃Why； Afy； what has put you out？ I don't want to injure you。 Couldn't do it； if I tried； as you say；〃 he added； with another quiet laugh。 〃I have been in too many scrapes myself to let my tongue bring other folks into one。〃
〃There； that's enough。 Just take yourself off。 It's not over reputable to have you at one's side in public。〃
〃Well； I will relieve you of my company； if you'll let me deliver my commission。 Though； as to 'reputable'however； I won't put you out further。 You are wanted at the justice…room at three o'clock this afternoon。 And don't fail； please。〃
〃Wanted at the justice…room！〃 retorted Afy。 〃I！ What for？〃
〃And must not fail； as I say；〃 repeated Mr。 Ebenezer。 〃You saw Levison taken upyour old flame〃
Afy stamped her foot in indignant interruption。 〃Take care what you say； Ebenezer James！ Flame！ He？ I'll have you put up for defamation of character。〃
〃Don't be a goose； Afy。 It's of no use riding the high horse with me。 You know where I saw youand saw him。 People here said you were with Dick Hare； I could have told them better； but I did not。 It was no affair of mine； that I should proclaim it； neither is it now。 Levison /alias/ Thorn is taken up for your father's murder； and you are wanted to give evidence。 There！ that's your subpoena； Ball thought you would not come without one。〃
〃I will never give evidence against Levison；〃 she uttered； tearing the subpoena to pieces； and scattering them in the street。 〃I swear I won't。 There； for you！ Will I help to hang an innocent man； when it was Dick Hare who was the guilty one？ No！ I'll walk myself off a hundred miles away first； and stop in hiding till it's over。 I shan't forget this turn that you have chosen to play me； Ebenezer James。〃
〃I chosen！ Why； do you suppose I have anything to do with it？ Don't take up that notion； Afy。 Mr。 Ball put that subpoena in my hand； and told me to serve it。 He might have given it to the other clerk； just as he gave it to me； it was all chance。 If I could do you a good turn I'd do itnot a bad one。〃
Afy strode on at railroad speed； waving him off。 〃Mind you don't fail； Afy；〃 he said； as he prepared to return。
〃Fail；〃 answered she； with flashing eyes。 〃I shall fail giving evidence； if you mean that。 They don't get me up to their justice… room； neither by force or stratagem。〃
Ebenezer James stood and looked after her as she tore along。
〃What a spirit that Afy has got； when it's put up！〃 quoth he。 〃She'll be doing as she saidmake offunless she's stopped。 She's a great simpleton！ Nothing particular need come out about her and Thorn； unless she lets it out herself in her tantrums。 Here comes Ball； I declare！ I must tell him。〃
On went Afy； and gained Mrs。 Latimer's。 That lady； suffering from indisposition was confined to the house。 Afy； divesting herself of certain little odds and ends of her finery； made her way into Mrs。 Latimer's presence。
〃Oh； ma'am； such heartrending news as I have had！〃 began she。 〃A relation of mine is dying； and wants to see me。 I ought to be away by the next train。〃
〃Dear me！〃 cried Mrs。 Latimer； after a pause of dismay。 〃But how can I do without you； Afy？〃
〃It's a dying request； ma'am；〃 pleaded Afy； covering her eyes with her handkerchiefnot the lace oneas if in the depth of woe。 〃Of course I wouldn't ask you under any other circumstances； suffering as you are！〃
〃Where is it to！〃 asked Mrs。 Latimer。 〃How long shall you be away？〃
Afy mentioned the first town that came uppermost； and 〃hoped〃 she might be back to…morrow。
〃What relation is it？〃 continued Mrs。 Latimer。 〃I thought you had no relatives； except Joyce and your aunt； Mrs。 Kane。〃
〃This is another aunt；〃 cried Afy； softly。 〃I have never mentioned her； not being friends。 Differences divided us。 Of course that makes me all the more anxious to obey her request。〃
An uncommon good hand at an impromptu tale was Afy。 And Mrs。 Latimer consented to her demand。 Afy flew upstairs； attired herself once more； put one or two things in a small leather bag； placed some money in her purse； and left the house。
Sauntering idly on the pavement on the sunny side of the street was a policeman。 He crossed over to Afy； with whom he had a slight acquaintance。
〃Good…day； Miss Hallijohn。 A fine day； is it not？〃
〃Fine enough；〃 returned Afy； provoked at being hindered。 〃I can't talk to you now； for I am in a hurry。〃
The faster she walked； the faster he walked； keeping at her side。 Afy's pace increased to a run。 His increased to a run too。
〃Whatever are you in such haste over？〃 asked he。
〃Well； it's nothing to you。 And I am sure I don't want you to dance attendance upon me just now。 There's a time for all things。 I'll have some chatter with you another day。〃
〃One would think you were hurrying to catch a train。〃
〃So I amif you must have your curiosity satisfied。 I am going on a little pleasure excursion； Mr。 Inquisitive。〃
〃For long？〃
〃Um！ Home to…morrow； perhaps。 Is it true that Mr。 Carlyle's elected？〃
〃Oh； yes； don't go up that way； please。〃
〃Not up this way？〃 repeated Afy。 〃It's the nearest road to the station。 It cuts off all that corner。〃
The officer laid his hand upon her； gently。 Afy thought he was venturing upon it in sportas if he deemed her too charming to be parted with。
〃What do you mean by your nonsense？ I tell you I have not time for it now。 Take your hand off me；〃 she added grimlyfor the hand was clasping her closer。
〃I am sorry to hurt a lady's feelings； especially yours； miss； but I daren't take it off； and I daren't part with you。 My instructions are to take you on at once to the witness…room。 Your evidence is wanted this afternoon。〃
If you ever saw a ghost more livid than ghosts in ordinary； you may picture to your mind the appearance of Afy Hallijohn just then。 She did not faint as she had done once before that day； but she looked as if she should die。 One sharp cry； instantly suppressed； for Afy did retain some presence of mind； and remembered that she was in the public roadone sharp tussle for liberty； over as soon； and she resigned herself； perforce； to her fate。
〃I have no evidence to give；〃 she said； in a calmer tone。 〃I know nothing of the facts。〃
〃I'm sure /I/ don't know anything of them；〃 returned the man。 〃I don't know why you are wanted。 When instructions are given us； miss； we can't ask what they mean。 I was bid to watch that you didn't go off out of the town； and to bring you on to the witness…room if you attempted it； and I have tried to do it as politely as possible。〃
〃You don't imagine I am going to walk through West Lynne with your hand upon me！〃
〃I'll take it off； Miss Hallijohn； if you'll give a promise not to bolt。 You see