nd bitter.

"What does Stirling say about telegraphing?" Edwin demanded. He had
intended to say `telegraphing for Mrs Cannon,' but he could not utter
the last words; he could not compel his vocal organs to utter them. He
became aware of the beating of his heart. For twenty-four hours he had
been contemplating the possibility of a summons to Hilda. Now the
possibility had developed into a probability. Nay, a certainty! Maggie
was the very last person to be alarmist.

Maggie replied: "He says it might be as well to wait till to-morrow.
But then you know he is like that--a bit."

"So they say," Auntie Hamps agreed.

"Have you seen the kid?" Edwin asked.

"About two minutes," said Maggie. "It's pitiable to watch him."

"Why? Is he in pain?"

"Not what you'd call pain. No! But he's so upset. Worried about
himself. He's got a terrific fever on him. I'm certain he's delirious
sometimes. Poor little thing!"

Tears gleamed in her eyes. The plight of the boy had weakened her
prejudices against him. Assuredly he was not `rough' now.

Astounded and frightened by those shimmering tears, Edwin exclaimed,
"You don't mean to say there's actual danger?"

"Well--" Maggie hesitated, and stopped.

There was silence for a moment. Edwin felt that the situation was now
further intensified.

"I expect you've heard about the poor Vicar," Mrs Hamps funereally
insinuated. Edwin mutely damned her.

Maggie looked up sharply. "No! ... He's not--"

Mrs Hamps nodded twice.

The tears vanished from Maggie's eyes, forced backwards by all the
secret pride that was in her. It was obvious that not the news of the
Vicar had originally caused those tears; but nevertheless there should
be no shadow of misunderstanding. The death of the Vicar must be
associated with no more serious sign of distress in Maggie than in
others. She must be above suspicion. For one acute moment, as he read
her thoughts and as the profound sacrificial tragedy of her entire
existence loomed less indistinctly than usual before him, Edwin ceased
to think about himself and Hilda.

She made a quick hysterical movement.

"I wish you'd go across, Edwin," she said harshly.

"I'll go now," he answered, with softness. And he was glad to go.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Four.

It was Osmond Orgreave who opened to him the front door of Lane End
House. Maggie had told the old gentleman that she s