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u, go with you," answered Mr Roberts hastily, waving Pandora away. "No need any further--time presseth, and I have business to see to." Mrs Collenwood smiled silently as she motioned to Pandora to pass out. Mr Roberts could scarcely have confessed more plainly that the priest had set him to a catechising of which he was but too thankful to be rid. "Poor Tom!" she said to herself. CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. CHECK! Pandora would have spoken as soon as they left the dining-room, but she was stopped by a motion of her aunt's hand. Mrs Collenwood took her into her own bedroom, shut and barred the door, glanced inside a hanging closet to see that no one was secreted there, and seating herself on the cushioned seat which ran round the inside of the bay window, signed to her niece to take a seat beside her. "Now, Dorrie, speak thy desire." "Aunt Frances, I am surprised with wonder! Pray you, what ail I, that I must quit home thus suddenly? I feel right well, and knew not there was aught ado with mine health." Pandora's voice betrayed a little alarm. It certainly was a startling thing for a girl who felt and believed herself in excellent health, to hear suddenly that unless she had instant change of air, serious consequences might be expected to ensue. Mrs Collenwood smiled--an affectionate, almost compassionate smile--as she patted Pandora's shoulder. "Take thine heart to thee, Dorrie. Thou art not sick, and if I can have thee away in sufficient time, God allowing, thou shalt not be. But I fear, if thou tarry, thou mayest have an attack of a certain pestilence that is rife in Kent at this season." "Pestilence, Aunt Frances! I never heard of no such going about. But if so, why I alone? There be Father, and True, and Aunt Grena--should they not go likewise?" "No fear for Gertrude," answered Mrs Collenwood, almost sadly. "And not much, methinks, for thy father. I am lesser sure of thine Aunt Grena: but I have not yet been able to prevail with her to accompany us." "But what name hath this pestilence, under your good leave, Aunt Frances?" "It is called, Dorrie--persecution." The colour rose slowly in Pandora's cheeks, until her whole face was suffused. "Methinks I take you now, Aunt," she said. "But, if I may have liberty to ask at you, wherefore think you Father and True to be safer than Aunt Grena and I?" "Because they would yield, Dorrie. I misdoubt any charge brought against Ge
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