countenance grew full of puckers, and she sat in
silence, softly patting Mary's shoulder with one hand, holding her
tightly with the other, till her husband had ended with--

"Disgraceful--disgraceful, I say. I don't know what Mrs Mostyn would
think if she knew."

"Well, I don't know, my dear," sighed Mrs Ellis, with the tears gently
trickling down her cheeks, and dropping one by one like dew-drops on
Mary's beautiful hair. "Mrs Mostyn has been a dear, good mistress to
us."

"Yes, and a pretty business for her to hear--our child degrading herself
like this."

"'Tis very sad, James, but Mrs Mostyn made a runaway match with Captain
Mostyn."

"Eliza, are you mad too?"

"No, James, dear; but I'm afraid these are mysteries that men don't
quite understand."

"Bah!"

"But they do not, dear. If you remember, my poor dear dad and your
father were very angry about your wanting me. Dad said you were only a
common gardener, but I felt--"

"Woman, you are as bad as your daughter," raged James Ellis. "Was I a
poor blind man?"

"No, my dear; for you always had very, very fine eyes, but--"

"Bah!" raged out James Ellis; and he went out and banged the door.

CHAPTER NINE.

John Grange's journey to London was performed almost in silence, for as
he sat back in the corner of the carriage, weak and terribly shaken by
the scene through which he had passed, Daniel Barnett sat opposite to
him, wishing that they did not live in a civilised country, but
somewhere among savages who would think no ill of one who rid himself of
a useless, troublesome rival.

But after a time rage gave way to contempt. He felt that he had nothing
to fear from the helpless object in question. Mary never looked more
attractive than when she stood up there defending the poor blind fellow
before him.

"If I could only get her to be as fond of me, and ready to stick up for
me like that!" he thought; and he softly rubbed his hands together.
"And I will," he muttered. "She's very young, and it was quite natural.
She'll soon forget poor old blind Jack, and then--but we shall see.
Head-gardener at The Hollows, and James Ellis willing. I shall win, my
lad, and step into the old man's shoes as well."

He parted from John Grange at the infirmary, and somehow the darkness
did not seem so black to the sufferer for some days. For he was full of
hope, a hope which grew stronger as the time went by. Then old Tummus
came up to see him, and gladde