d returned in double force, as he now fancied that she
would have been here to comfort him, and to share his grief, to be a
Mrs. Edmonstone, whose love no fault and no offence could ever cancel.

He rode to Moorworth, and made Mrs. Lavers tell him all she remembered.
She was nothing loath, and related how she had been surprised by Mr.
Morville arriving with his fair, shrinking young wife, and how she had
rejoiced in his coming home again. She described Mrs. Morville with
beautiful blue eyes and flaxen hair, looking pale and delicate, and with
clinging caressing ways like a little child afraid to be left.

'Poor thing!' said Mrs. Lavers, wiping her eyes; 'when he was going, she
clung about him, and cried, and was so timid about being left, that at
last he called me, and begged me to stay with her, and take care of her.
It was very pretty to see how gentle and soft he was to her, sharp and
hasty as he was with most; and she would not let him go, coaxing him not
to stay away long; till at last he put her on the sofa, saying, "There,
there, Marianne, that will do. Only be a good child, and I'll come for
you." I never forget those words, for they were the last I ever heard
him speak.'

'Well?'

'Poor dear! she cried heartily at first; but after a time she cheered
up, and quite made friends with me. I remember she told me which were
Mr. Morville's favourite songs, and sang little scraps of them.'

'Can you remember what they were?' eagerly exclaimed Guy.

'Law, no, air; I never had no head for music. And she laughed about her
journey to Scotland, and got into spirits, only she could not bear I
should go out of the room; and after a time she grew very anxious for
him to come back. I made her some tea, and tried to get her to bed,
but she would not go, though she seemed very tired; for she said Mr.
Morville would come to take her to Redclyffe, and she wanted to hear all
about the great house, listening for him all the time, and I trying to
quiet her, and telling her the longer he stayed the better chance there
was. Then came a call for me, and down-stairs I found everything in
confusion; the news had come--I never knew how. I had not had time to
hear it rightly myself, when there was a terrible cry from up-stairs.
Poor thing! whether she thought he was come, or whether her mind misgave
her, she had come after me to the head of the stairs, and heard what
they were saying. I don't believe she ever rightly knew what had
happ