City man fairly
cowered away from her.

"We will leave that to the future," he said. "I came up to do you a
kindness, and you abuse me. I hear that there are insects about the
house, beetles and the like. A few drops from this bottle scattered
about the room would keep them away. Take care, for it is a violent
though painless poison if taken by a human being." He handed her a
phial, with a brownish turbid liquid in it, and a large red poison
label, which she took without comment and placed upon the mantelpiece.
Girdlestone gave a quick, keen glance at her as he retired. In truth he
was astonished at the alteration which the last few days had made in her
appearance. Her cheeks were colourless and sunken, save for the single
hectic spot, which announced the fever within. Her eyes were
unnaturally bright. A strange and new expression had settled upon her
whole countenance. It seemed to Girdlestone that there was every chance
that his story might become a reality, and her reason be permanently
deranged. She had, however, more vitality than her guardian gave her
credit for. Indeed, at the very time when he set her down in his mind
as a broken woman, she had formed a fresh plan for escape, which it
would require both energy and determination to put into execution.

During the last few days she had endeavoured to make friends with the
maid Rebecca, but the invincible aversion which the latter had
entertained for her, ever since Ezra had visited her with his unwelcome
attentions, was not to be overcome by any advances which she could make.
She performed her offices with a heart full of malice, and an eye which
triumphed in her mistress's misfortunes.

Kate had bethought herself that Stevens, the gatekeeper, only mounted
guard during the day. She had observed, too, at the time of her
conversation with him, that the iron gate was in such a state of
disrepair that, even if it were locked, it would not be a difficult
matter to scramble through or over it. If she could only gain the open
air during the night there would be nothing to prevent her from making
her way to Bedsworth, whence she could travel on to Portsmouth, which
was only seven miles away. Surely there she would find some charitable
people who would communicate with her friends and give her a temporary
shelter.

The front door of the house was locked every night, but there was a nail
behind it, on which she hoped to find the key. There was another d