what it is--" he suggested.

"That is the hardest part of it," said the unhappy woman. She paused a
moment as though to collect her strength. "You know," she began again,
"that my husband has escaped?"

"A terrible business!" exclaimed the good man, nodding, however, in
affirmation to the question she asked.

"I have seen him," said Mary Goddard very faintly, looking down at her
thin hands. The vicar started in astonishment.

"My dear friend--dear me! Dear, dear, how very painful!"

"Indeed, you do not know what I have suffered. It is most dreadful, Mr.
Ambrose. You cannot imagine what a struggle it was. I am quite worn out."

She spoke with such evident pain that the vicar was moved. He felt that
she had more to tell, but he had hardly recovered from his surprise.

"But, you know," he said, "that was the whole object of warning you. We
did not really believe that he would come here. We were so much afraid
that he would startle you. Of course Mr. Juxon told you he consulted
me--"

"Of course," answered Mrs. Goddard. "It was too late. I had seen him the
night before."

"Why, that was the very night we were here!" exclaimed Mr. Ambrose, more
and more amazed. Mrs. Goddard nodded. She seemed hardly able to speak.

"He came and knocked at that window," she said, very faintly. "He came
again last night."

"Dear me--I will send for Gall at once; he will have no difficulty in
arresting him--"

"Oh please!" interrupted Mrs. Goddard in hysterical tones. "Please,
please, dear Mr. Ambrose, don't!"

The vicar was silent. He rose unceremoniously from his chair and walked
to the window, as he generally did when in any great doubt. He realised
at once and very vividly the awful position in which the poor lady was
placed.

"Pray do not think I am very bad," said she, almost sobbing with fear and
emotion. "Of course it must seem dreadful to you that I should wish him
to escape!"

The vicar came slowly back and stood beside her leaning against the
chimney-piece. It did not take him long to make up his mind. Kind-hearted
people are generally impulsive.

"I do not, my dear lady. I assure you I fully understand your position.
The fact is, I was too much surprised and I am too anxious for your
safety not to think immediately of securing that--ahem--that unfortunate
man."

"Oh, it is not my safety! It is not only my safety--"

"I understand--yes--of course you are anxious about him. But it is
doubtless not our business