"I don't understand your reference to my mother," she said. "Miss Clack,
will you have the goodness to explain yourself?"

Before I could answer, Mr. Bruff came forward, and offering his arm to
Rachel, tried to lead her out of the room.

"You had better not pursue the subject, my dear," he said. "And Miss
Clack had better not explain herself."

If I had been a stock or a stone, such an interference as this must
have roused me into testifying to the truth. I put Mr. Bruff aside
indignantly with my own hand, and, in solemn and suitable language, I
stated the view with which sound doctrine does not scruple to regard the
awful calamity of dying unprepared.

Rachel started back from me--I blush to write--with a scream of horror.

"Come away!" she said to Mr. Bruff. "Come away, for God's sake, before
that woman can say any more! Oh, think of my poor mother's harmless,
useful, beautiful life! You were at the funeral, Mr. Bruff; you saw
how everybody loved her; you saw the poor helpless people crying at her
grave over the loss of their best friend. And that wretch stands there,
and tries to make me doubt that my mother, who was an angel on earth,
is an angel in heaven now! Don't stop to talk about it! Come away! It
stifles me to breathe the same air with her! It frightens me to feel
that we are in the same room together!"

Deaf to all remonstrance, she ran to the door.

At the same moment, her maid entered with her bonnet and shawl. She
huddled them on anyhow. "Pack my things," she said, "and bring them to
Mr. Bruff's." I attempted to approach her--I was shocked and grieved,
but, it is needless to say, not offended. I only wished to say to her,
"May your hard heart be softened! I freely forgive you!" She pulled down
her veil, and tore her shawl away from my hand, and, hurrying out, shut
the door in my face. I bore the insult with my customary fortitude. I
remember it now with my customary superiority to all feeling of offence.

Mr. Bruff had his parting word of mockery for me, before he too hurried
out, in his turn.

"You had better not have explained yourself, Miss Clack," he said, and
bowed, and left the room.

The person with the cap-ribbons followed.

"It's easy to see who has set them all by the ears together," she said.
"I'm only a poor servant--but I declare I'm ashamed of you!" She too
went out, and banged the door after her.

I was left alone in the room. Reviled by them all, deserted by them all,
I was l