e food down her throat, somehow, Mrs. Thrale, or we
shall have her sinking from exhaustion. You will stop to help, Keziah?
Stop till to-morrow. I will look in at the Lodge to tell your husband. I
must go now. Is Tom Kettering there?" Gwen felt she would like an
affectionate farewell of Ruth Thrale, but a slight recrudescence of the
Norman Conquest came in the way, due to the presence of Keziah and
Elizabeth-next-door; so she had to give it up.

Tom Kettering was not there, but was reproducible at pleasure by
whistles, evolved from some agent close at hand and willing to assist.
Tom and the mare appeared unchanged by their long vigil, and showed
neither joy nor sorrow at its coming to an end. A violent shake the
latter indulged in was a mere report of progress, and Tom only touched
his hat as a convention from time immemorial. There was not a trace of
irony in his "Home, my lady?" though a sarcastic Jehu might have seemed
to be expressing a doubt whether her ladyship meant ever to go home at
all.

The road to Costrell's turned off Gwen's line of route, the main road to
the Towers. A cart was just coming in sight, at the corner. Farmer
Costrell's cart, driven by himself. An old woman, by his side--Granny
Marrable, surely?

Gwen was simply frightened. She felt absolutely unfit for another
high-tension interview. Her head might give way and she might do
something foolish. But it was impossible to turn and run. It was,
however, easy enough to go quickly by, with ordinary salutations. Still,
it was repugnant to her to do so. But, then, what else could she do? It
was settled for her.

Said Granny Marrable to her grandson-in-law:--"'Tis Gwen o' th' Towers,
John, in Tom Kettering's gig. Bide here till they come up, that I may
get speech of her ladyship."

"Will she stand still on th' high roo-ad, to talk to we?"

"She'll never pass me by if she sees me wishful to speak with her. Her
ladyship has too good a heart."

"Vairy well, Gra-anny." John Costrell reined in his horse, and the cart
and gig came abreast.

Granny Marrable spoke at once. Her voice was firm, but her face was pale
and hard set. "I have been told strange news, my lady, but it _must_ be
true. It cannot be else."

"It _is_ true. Dr. Nash told you."

"That is so. Our Dr. Nash."

"But how much? Has he told you all?"

"I will tell your ladyship." The old woman's firmness and strength were
marvellous to Gwen. "He has told me that my sister that was dead