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on his way to the house； and the delivery of the telegram had been delayed
for some hours。 It was addressed to Natalie。 She opened itlooked at it
dropped itand stood speechless； her lips parted in horror； her eyes staring
vacantly straight before her。
Miss Lavinia took the telegram from the floor； and read these lines：
〃Lady Winwood； Hertford Street； London。 To Natalie Graybrooke；
Church Meadows； Baxdale； Somersetshire。 Dreadful news。 R。 T。 has
discovered your marriage to Launce。 The truth has been kept from me till
to…day （24th）。 Instant flight with your husband is your only chance。 I
would have communicated with Launce； but I do not know his address。
You will receive this； I hope and believe； before R。 T。 can return to
Somersetshire。 Telegraph back； I entreat you； to say that you are safe。 I
shall follow my message if I do not hear from you in reasonable time。〃
Miss Lavinia lifted her gray head； and looked at her niece。 〃Is this
true？〃 she saidand pointed to the venerable face laid back； white； on the
white pillow of the bed。 Natalie sank forward as her eyes met the eyes of
her aunt。 Miss Lavinia saved her from falling insensible on the floor。
* * * * * * * * *
The confession had been made。 The words of penitence and the words
of pardon had been spoken。 The peaceful face of the father still lay hushed
in rest。 One by one the minutes succeeded each other uneventfully in the
deep tranquillity of the night。 It was almost a relief when the silence was
disturbed once more by another sound outside the house。 A pebble was
thrown up at the window； and a voice called out cautiously； 〃Miss
Lavinia！〃
They recognized the voice of the man…servant； and at once opened the
window。
He had something to say to the ladies in private。 How could he say it？
A domestic circumstance which had been marked by Launce； as favorable
to the contemplated elopement； was now noticed by the servant as lending
itself readily to effecting the necessary communication with the ladies。
The lock of the gardener's tool…house （in the shrubbery close by） was
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under repair； and the gardener's ladder was accessible to any one who
wanted it。 At the short height of the balcony from the ground； the ladder
was more than long enough for the purpose required。 In a few minutes the
servant had mounted to the balcony； and could speak to Natalie and her
aunt at the window。
〃I can't rest quiet；〃 said the man； 〃I'm off on the sly to see what's going
on down in the village。 It's hard on ladies like you to be locked in here。 Is
there anything I can do for either of you？〃
Natalie took up Lady Winwood's telegram。 〃Launce ought to see this；〃
she said to her aunt。 〃He will be here at daybreak；〃 she added； in a whisper；
〃if I don't tell him what has happened。〃
Miss Lavinia turned pale。 〃If he and Richard meet〃 she began。 〃Tell
him！〃 she added； hurriedly〃tell him before it is too late！〃
Natalie wrote a few lines （addressed to Launce in his assumed name at
his lodgings in the village） inclosing Lady Winwood's telegram； and
entreating him to do nothing rash。 When the servant had disappeared with
the letter； there was one hope in her mind and in her aunt's mind； which
each was ashamed to acknowledge to the other the hope that Launce
would face the very danger that they dreaded for him； and come to the
house。
They had not been long alone again； when Sir Joseph drowsily opened
his eyes and asked what they were doing in his room。 They told him
gently that he was ill。 He put his hand up to his head； and said they were
right； and so dropped off again into slumber。 Worn out by the emotions
through which they had passed； the two women silently waited for the
march of events。 The same stupor of resignation possessed them both。
They had secured the door and the window。 They had prayed together。
They had kissed the quiet face on the pillow。 They had said to each other；
〃We will live with him or die with him as God pleases。〃 Miss Lavinia sat
by the bedside。 Natalie was on a stool at her feetwith her eyes closed；
and her head on her aunt's knee。
Time went on。 The clock in the hall had struckten or eleven； they
were not sure whichwhen they heard the signal which warned them of
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the servant's return from the village。 He brought news； and more than
news； he brought a letter from Launce。
Natalie read these lines：
〃I shall be with you； dearest； almost as soon as you receive this。 The
bearer will tell you what has happened in the village your note throws a
new light on it all。 I only remain behind to go to the vicar （who is also the
magistrate here）； and declare myself your husband。 All disguise must be at
an end now。 My place is with you and yours。 It is even worse than your
worst fears。 Turlington was at the bottom of the attack on your father。
Judge if you have not need of your husband's protection after that！L。〃
Natalie handed the letter to her aunt； and pointed to the sentence
which asserted Turlington's guilty knowledge of the attempt on Sir
Joseph's life。 In silent horror the two women looked at each other；
recalling what had happened earlier in the evening； and understanding it
now。 The servant roused them to a sense of present things； by entering on
the narrative of his discoveries in the village。
The place was all astir when he reached it。 An old mana stranger in
Baxdalehad been found lying in the road； close to the church； in a fit；
and the person who had discovered him had been no other than Launce
himself。 He had； literally； stumbled over the body of Thomas Wildfang in
the dark； on his way back to his lodgings in the village。
〃The gentleman gave the alarm； miss；〃 said the servant； describing the
event； as it had been related to him； 〃and the mana huge； big old man
was carried to the inn。 The landlord identified him； he had taken lodgings
at the inn that day； and the constable found valuable property on hima
purse of money and a gold watch and chain。 There was nothing to show
who the money and the watch belonged to。 It was only when my master
and the doctor got to the inn that it was known whom he had robbed and
tried to murder。 All he let out in his wanderings before they came was that
some person had set him on to do it。 He called the person 'Captain；' and
sometimes 'Captain Goward。' It was thoughtif you could trust the ravings
of a madmanthat the fit took him while he was putting his hand on Sir
Joseph's heart to feel if it had stopped beating。 A sort of vision （as I
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understand it） must have overpowered him at the moment。 They tell me he
raved about the sea bursting into the church yard； and a drowning sailor
floating by on a hen…coop； a sailor who dragged him down to hell by the
hair of his head； and such like horrible nonsense； miss。 He was still
screeching； at the worst of the fit； when my master and the doctor came
into the room。 At sight of one or other of themit is thought of Mr。
Turlington； seeing that he came firsthe held his peace on a sudden； and
then fell back in convulsions in the arms of the men who were holding him。
The doctor gave it a learned name； signifying drink…madness； and said the
case was hopeless。 However； he ordered the room to be cleared of the
crowd to see what be could do。 My master was reported to be still with the
doctor； waiting to see whether the man lived or died； when I left the
village； miss； with the gentleman's answer to your note。 I didn't dare stay
to hear how it ended； for fear of Mr。 Turlington's finding me out。〃
Having reached the end of his narrative； the man looked round
restlessly toward the window。 It