ty. At the words they rushed out with
one accord, and the women stole after them with trembling steps and
blanched lips.

"If ever I saw such behaviour in all my existence!" irascibly spoke the
countess-dowager, who was left alone in her glory. "The death-wail,
indeed! The woman's a fool. I'll get those Irishmen transported, if
I can."

In the hall the servants were gathered, cowering almost as the ladies
did. Their master had flown down the hall-steps, and the labourers were
coming steadily up to it, bearing something in procession. Dr. Ashton
came back as quickly as he had gone out, extending his arms before him.

"Ladies, I pray you go in," he urged, in strange agitation. "You must not
meet these--these Irishmen. Go back to the dining-room, I entreat you,
and remain in it."

But the curiosity of women--who can suppress it? They were as though they
heard not, and were pressing on to the door, when Val Elster dashed in
with a white face.

"Back, all of you! You must not stay here. This is no place or sight for
you. Anne," he added, seizing Miss Ashton's hand in peremptory entreaty,
"you at least know how to be calm. Get them away, and keep them out of
the hall."

"Tell me the worst," she implored. "I will indeed try to be calm. Who is
it those men are bringing here?"

"My dear brother--my dead brother. Madam," he continued to the
countess-dowager, who had now come out, dinner-napkin in hand, her curls
all awry, "you must not come here. Go back to the dining-room, all of
you."

"Not come here! Go back to the dining-room!" echoed the outraged dowager.
"Don't take quite so much upon yourself, Val Elster. The house is Lord
Hartledon's, and I am a free agent in it."

A shriek--an agonized shriek--broke from Lady Maude. In her suspense she
had stolen out unperceived, and lifted the covering of the rude bier, now
resting on the steps. The rays of the hall-lamp fell on the face, and
Maude, in her anguish, with a succession of hysterical sobs, came
shivering back to sink down at her mother's feet.

"Oh, my love--my love! Dead! dead!"

The only one who heard the words was Anne Ashton. The countess-dowager
caught the last.

"Who is dead? What is this mystery?" she asked, unceremoniously lifting
her satin dress, with the intention of going out to see, and her head
began to nod--perhaps with apprehension--as if she had the palsy. "You
want to force us away. No, thank you; not until I've come to the bottom
of this."