But Mr. Grey put his arm round her, and assured her that no one could
harm her, Colonel Keith let his fingers be very hard pinched, and her
aunt came nearer, all telling her that she had only to make her answers
distinctly; and though still shrinking, she could reply to Mr. Grey's
question whom she meant by Mr. Maddox.

"The agent for the glass--my father's agent."

"And who is Maria?"

"She was my nurse."

"When did you last see the person you call Mr. Maddox?"

"Last time, I was sure of it, was when I was walking on the esplanade
at Avoncester with Colonel Keith," said Rose, very anxious to turn aside
and render her words inaudible.

"I suppose you can hardly tell when that was?"

"Yes, it was the day before you went away to Lord Keith's wedding," said
Rose, looking to the Colonel.

"Had you seen him before?"

"Twice when I was out by myself, but it frightened me so that I never
looked again."

"Can you give me any guide to the time?"

She was clear that it had been after Colonel Keith's first stay at
Avonmouth, but that was all, and being asked if she had ever mentioned
these meetings, "Only when Colonel Keith saw how frightened I was, and
asked me."

"Why were you frightened?" asked Mr. Grey, on a hint from the Colonel.

"Because I could not quite leave off believing the dreadful things Mr.
Maddox and Maria said they would do to me if I told."

"Told what?"

"About Mr. Maddox coming and walking with Maria when she was out with
me," gasped Rose, trying to avert her head, and not comforted by hearing
Mr. Grey repeat her words to those tormentors of her infancy.

A little encouragement, however, brought out the story of the
phosphoric letters, the lions, and the vision of Maddox growling in the
dressing-room. The date of the apparition could hardly be hoped for,
but fortunately Rose remembered that it was two days before her mamma's
birthday, because she had felt it so bard to be eaten up before the
fete, and this date tallied with that given by Maria of her admitting
her treacherous admirer into the private rooms.

"The young lady may be precocious, no doubt, sir," here said the
accused, "but I hardly see why she has been brought here. You can attach
no weight to the confused recollections of so young a child, of matters
that took place so long ago."

"The question will be what weight the jury will attach to them at the
assizes," said Mr. Grey.

"You will permit me to make one inquiry of the y