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〃What have you been doing ever since； then？ Where have you been？〃
〃Never mind； I say；〃 repeated Afy。 〃West Lynne has not been so complimentary to me； it appears； that I need put myself out of my way to satisfy its curiosity。 I was knocking about a bit at first； but I soon settled down as steady as Old Timeas steady as you。〃
〃Are you married？〃 inquired Joyce； noting the word 〃settled。〃
〃Catch me marrying；〃 retorted Afy； 〃I like my liberty too well。 Not but what I might be induced to change my condition； if anything out of the way eligible occurred； it must be very eligible； though； to tempt me。 I am what I suppose you call yourselfa lady's maid。〃
〃Indeed！〃 said Joyce； much relieved。 〃And are you comfortable； Afy？ Are you in good service？〃
〃Middling； for that。 The pay's not amiss； but there's a great deal to do； and Lady Mount Severn's too much of a Tartar for me。〃
Joyce looked at her in surprise。 〃What have you to do with Lady Mount Severn？〃
〃Well； that's good！ It's where I am at service。〃
〃At Lady Mount Severn's？〃
〃Why not？ I have been there two years。 It is not a great deal longer I shall stop； though； she had too much vinegar in her for me。 But it poses me to imagine what on earth could have induced you to fancy I should go off with that Dick Hare；〃 she added； for she could not forget the grievance。
〃Look at the circumstances；〃 argued Joyce。 〃You both disappeared。〃
〃But not together。〃
〃Nearly together。 There were only a few days intervening。 And you had neither money nor friends。〃
〃You don't know what I had。 But I would rather have died of want on father's grave than have shared his means；〃 continued Afy； growing passionate again。
〃Where is he？ Not hung； or I should have heard of it。〃
〃He has never been seen since that night； Afy。〃
〃Nor heard of？〃
〃Nor heard of。 Most people think he is in Australia； or some other foreign land。〃
〃The best place for him； the more distance he puts between him and home； the better。 If he does come back； I hope he'll get his desserts which is a rope's end。 I'd go to his hanging。〃
〃You are as bitter against him as Mr。 Justice Hare。 He would bring his son back to suffer； if he could。〃
〃A cross…grained old camel！〃 remarked Afy； in allusion to the qualities； social and amiable； of the revered justice。 〃I don't defend Dick HareI hate him too much for thatbut if his father had treated him differently； Dick might have been different。 Well； let's talk of something else； the subject invariably gives me the shivers。 Who is mistress here？〃
〃Miss Carlyle。〃
〃Oh； I might have guessed that。 Is she as fierce as ever？〃
〃There is little alteration in her。〃
〃And there won't be on this side the grave。 I say； Joyce； I don't want to encounter her； she might set on at me； like she has done many a time in the old days。 Little love was there lost between me and Corny Carlyle。 Is Mr。 Carlyle at home？〃
〃He will be home to dinner。 I dare say you would like some tea； you shall come and take it with me and Wilson； in the nursery。〃
〃I was thinking you might have the grace to offer me something；〃 cried Afy。 〃I intend to stop till to…morrow in the neighborhood。 My lady gave me two days' holidayfor she was going to see her dreadful old grandmother； where she can't take a maidand I thought I'd use it in coming to have a look at the old place again。 Don't stare at me in that blank way； as if you feared I should ask the grand loan of sleeping here。 I shall sleep at the Mount Severn Arms。〃
〃I was not glancing at such a thought； Afy。 Come and take your bonnet off。〃
〃Is the nursery full of children？〃
〃There is only one child in it。 Miss Lucy and Master William are with the governess。〃
Wilson received Afy with lofty condescension； having Richard Hare in her thoughts。 But Joyce explained that it was all a misapprehension that her sister had never been near Richard Hare； but was as indignant against him as they were。 Upon which Wilson grew cordial and chatty； rejoicing in the delightful recreation her tongue would enjoy that evening。
Afy's account of herself； as to past proceedings； was certainly not the most satisfactory in the world； but； altogether； taken in the present； it was so vast an improvement upon Joyce's conclusions； that she had not felt so elated for many a day。 When Mr。 Carlyle returned home Joyce sought him； and acquainted him with what had happened； that Afy was come； was maid to Lady Mount Severn； and； above all； that she had never been with Richard Hare。
〃Ah！ You remember what I said； Joyce；〃 he remarked。 〃That I did not believe Afy was with Richard Hare。〃
〃I have been telling her so； sir； to be sure； when I informed her what people had believed；〃 continued Joyce。 〃She nearly went into one of her old passions。〃
〃Does she seem steady； Joyce？〃
〃I think so； sirsteady for her。 I was thinking； sir； that as she appears to have turned out so respectable； and is with Lady Mount Severn； you； perhaps； might see no objection to her sleeping here for to…night。 It would be better than for her to go to the inn； as she talks of doing。〃
〃None at all；〃 replied Mr。 Carlyle。 〃Let her remain。〃
Later in the evening； after Mr。 Carlyle's dinner； a message came that Afy was to go to him。 Accordingly she proceeded to his presence。
〃So； Afy； you have returned to let West Lynne know that you are alive。 Sit down。〃
〃West Lynne may go a…walking for me in future； sir； for all the heed I shall take of it；〃 retorted Afy。 〃A set of wicked…minded scandal… mongers； to take and say I had gone after Richard Hare！〃
〃You should not have gone off at all； Afy。〃
〃Well； sir； that was my business； and I chose to go。 I could not stop in the cottage after that night's work。〃
〃There is a mystery attached to that night's work； Afy；〃 observed Mr。 Carlyle； 〃a mystery that I cannot fathom。 Perhaps you can help me out。〃
〃What mystery； sir？〃 returned Afy。
Mr。 Carlyle leaned forward； his arms on the table。 Afy had taken a chair at the other end of it。 〃Who was it that committed the murder？〃 he demanded； in a grave and somewhat imperative tone。
Afy stared some moments before she replied； astonished at the question。 〃Who committed the murder； sir？〃 she uttered at length。 〃Richard Hare committed it。 Everybody knows that。〃
〃Did you see it done？〃
〃No；〃 replied Afy。 〃If I had seen it； the fright and horror would have killed me。 Richard Hare quarreled with my father； and drew the gun upon him in passion。〃
〃You assume this to have been the case； Afy； as others have assumed it。 I do not think that it was Richard Hare who killed your father。〃
〃Not Richard Hare！〃 exclaimed Afy； after a pause。 〃Then who do you think did it； sirI？〃
〃Nonsense； Afy。〃
〃I know he did it；〃 proceeded Afy。 〃It is true that I did not see it done； but I know it for all that。 I /know/ it； sir。〃
〃You cannot know it； Afy。〃
〃I do know it； sir； I would not assert it to you if I did not。 If Richard Hare was here； present before us； and swore until he was black in the face that it was not him； I could convict him。〃
〃By what means？〃
〃I had rather not say； sir。 But you may believe me； for I am speaking truth。〃
〃There was another friend of yours present that