!"

For some time she sat looking straight before her, taking no notice of
the efforts of Abijah to call her attention, and unheeding the glass of
wine which she in vain pressed her to drink.

"I must go away," she said at last, rising suddenly. "I must go away at
once. Has he gone yet?"

"Go away, ma'am! Why, what should you go away for, and where are you
going?"

"It does not matter; it makes no difference," Mrs. Mulready said
feverishly, "so that I get away. Put some of my things together, Abijah.
What are you staring there for? Don't you hear what I say? I must go
away directly he has started for the mill."

And with trembling fingers she began to open her drawers and pull out
her clothes.

"But you can't go away like that, mistress. You can't, indeed," Abijah
said, aghast.

"I must go, Abijah. There is nothing else for me to do. Do you think I
could see him after treating him as I have done? I should fall dead at
his feet for shame."

"But where are you going, ma'am?" Abijah said, thinking it better not to
attempt to argue with her in her present state.

"I don't know, I don't know. Yes, I do. Do you know whether that cottage
you were telling me about where you lived while you were away from here,
is to let? That will do nicely, for there I should be away from every
one. Get me a box from the lumber room, and tell Harriet to go out and
get me a post chaise from the Red Lion as soon as my son has gone to the
mill."

"Very well," Abijah said. "I will do as you want me, 'm, if you will sit
down quiet and not excite yourself. You know you have not been out of
your room for a year, and if you go a-tiring yourself like this you will
never be able to stand the journey. You sit down in the chair and I will
do the packing for you. You can tell me what things you will take with
you. I will get the box down."

So saying, Abijah left the room, and, running hastily downstairs, told
Ned and the doctor the manner in which Mrs. Mulready had received the
news. Ned, would have run up at once to his mother, but Dr. Green would
not hear of it.

"It would not do, Ned. In your mother's present state the shock of
seeing you might have the worst effect. Run up, Abijah, and get the box
down to her. I will go out and come back and knock at the door in two
or three minutes, and will go up and see her, and, if necessary. I will
give her a strong soothing draught. You had better tell her that from
what you hear you believe Mr.