som, or, like the rich man, only dies
and is buried, and _the rest_, neither living nor dying do I desire his
company.'

Uncle Silas here seemed suddenly overtaken by exhaustion. He leaned back
with a ghastly look, and his lean features glistened with the dew of
faintness. I screamed for Wyat. But he soon recovered sufficiently to smile
his odd smile, and with it and his frown, nodded and waved me away.

CHAPTER XLVIII

_QUESTION AND ANSWER_

My uncle, after all, was not ill that day, after the strange fashion of his
malady, be it what it might. Old Wyat repeated in her sour laconic way that
there was 'nothing to speak of amiss with him.' But there remained with
me a sense of pain and fear. Doctor Bryerly, notwithstanding my uncle's
sarcastic reflections, remained, in my estimation, a true and wise friend.
I had all my life been accustomed to rely upon others, and here, haunted by
many unavowed and ill-defined alarms and doubts, the disappearance of an
active and able friend caused my heart to sink.

Still there remained my dear Cousin Monica, and my pleasant and trusted
friend, Lord Ilbury; and in less than a week arrived an invitation from
Lady Mary to the Grange, for me and Milly, to meet Lady Knollys. It
was accompanied, she told me, by a note from Lord Ilbury to my uncle,
supporting her request; and in the afternoon I received a message to attend
my uncle in his room.

'An invitation from Lady Mary Carysbroke for you and Milly to meet Monica
Knollys; have you received it?' asked my uncle, so soon as I was seated.
Answered in the affirmative, he continued--

'Now, Maud Ruthyn, I expect the truth from you; I have been frank, so shall
you. Have you ever heard me spoken ill of by Lady Knollys?'

I was quite taken aback.

I felt my cheeks flushing. I was returning his fierce cold gaze with a
stupid stare, and remained dumb.

'Yes, Maud, you _have_.'

I looked down in silence.

'I _know_ it; but it is right you should answer; have you or have you not?'

I had to clear my voice twice or thrice. There was a kind of spasm in my
throat.

'I am trying to recollect,' I said at last.

'_Do_ recollect,' he replied imperiously.

There was a little interval of silence. I would have given the world to be,
on any conditions, anywhere else in the world.

'Surely, Maud, you don't wish to deceive your guardian? Come, the question
is a plain one, and I know the truth already. I ask you again--have you
ever