eemed.

She had determined to remain in her room all the afternoon to avoid
Ezra, but her restlessness was so great that she felt feverish and hot.
The fresh air, she thought, would have a reviving effect upon her.
She slipped down the staircase, treading as lightly as possible not to
disturb the gentlemen in the refectory. They appeared to hear her
however, for the hum of conversation died away, and there was a dead
silence until after she had passed.

She went out on to the little lawn which lay in front of the old house.
There were some flower-beds scattered about on it, but they were
overgrown with weeds and in the last stage of neglect. She amused
herself by attempting to improve the condition of one of them and
kneeling down beside it she pulled up a number of the weeds which
covered it. There was a withered rose-bush in the centre, so she pulled
up that also, and succeeded in imparting some degree of order among the
few plants which remained. She worked with unnatural energy, pausing
every now and again to glance down the dark avenue, or to listen
intently to any chance sound which might catch her ear.

In the course of her work she chanced to look up at the Priory.
The refectory faced the lawn, and at the window of it there stood the
three men looking out at her. The Girdlestones were nodding their
heads, as though they were pointing her out to the third man, who stood
between them. He was looking at her with an expression of interest.
Kate thought as she returned his gaze that she had never seen a more
savage and brutal face. He was flushed and laughing, while Ezra beside
him appeared to be pale and anxious. They all, when they saw that she
noticed them, stepped precipitately back from the window. She had only
a momentary glance at them, and yet the three faces--the strange fierce
red one, and the two hard familiar pale ones which flanked it--remained
vividly impressed upon her memory.

Girdlestone had been so pleased at the early appearance of his allies,
and the prospect of settling the matter once for all, that he received
them with a cordiality which was foreign to his nature.

"Always punctual, my dear son, and always to be relied upon," he said.
"You are a model to our young business men. As to you, Mr. Burt," he
continued, grasping the navvy's horny hand, "I am delighted to see you
at the Priory, much as I regret the sad necessity which has brought you
down."

"Talk it over afterwards,"