r slept an
hour since it happened," he cried; "and as for my missis, it's
a-killing of her. We aint shut up, because we've got to live all the
same; and because, if the poor thing come back, there's always an open
door. But I'll have justice, if I was to die for it!" cried Elsworthy.
"I don't ask no more than justice. If it aint to be had one way, I'll
have it another. I'll set the police on him--I will. When a man's
drove wild, he aint answerable for what he's a-doing; and to see him
a-walking about Carlingford, and a-holding up his head, is a thing as
I won't stand no longer, not if it was to be my ruin. I'm as good as
ruined now, and I don't care." He broke off short with these words,
and sat down abruptly on the chair Thomas had placed for him in front
of the Rector's table. Up to this moment he had been standing, in his
vehemence and agitation, without taking advantage of the courtesy
accorded to his misfortune; now the poor man sat down by way of
emphasis, and began to polish his hat round and round with his
trembling hands.

As for Mr Morgan, he, on the contrary, got up and walked instinctively
to the fireplace, and stood there with his back to the empty grate,
contemplating the world in general with a troubled countenance, as was
usual. Not to speak of his prejudice against Mr Wentworth, the Rector
was moved by the sight of Elsworthy's distress; but then his wife, who
unluckily had brought her needlework into the library on this particular
morning, and who was in the interest of the Curate of St Roque's, was
seated watchful by the window, occasionally looking up, and entirely
cognisant, as Mr Morgan was aware, of everything that happened. The
Rector was much embarrassed to feel himself thus standing between the
two parties. "Yours is a very hard case--but it is necessary to proceed
with caution, for, after all, there is not much proof," he said,
faltering a little. "My dear, it is a pity to detain you from your
walk," Mr Morgan continued, after a momentary pause, and looked with a
flush of consciousness at his wife, whose absence would have been such a
relief to him. Mrs Morgan looked up with a gracious smile.

"You are not detaining me, William--I am very much interested," said
the designing woman, and immediately began to arrange and put in order
what the Rector knew by experience to be a long piece of work, likely
to last her an hour at least. Mr Morgan uttered a long breath, which
sounded like a little sno