it now?"

"Oh, yes, sir. She's a bedridden old woman. Mistress has been to see
her many a time."

"Did she walk or ride?"

"Walked, sir; you see, she couldn't ride to Mrs. Bray's, her cottage is
among the fields, and there's no carriage road."

"She is not gone alone?"

"No, sir," said the man, evidently wondering more and more at my
questions, "one of the servants went with her to carry the basket.

"Have there been any callers here to-day?"

"No, sir, no one has been but Mrs. Bray's little maid, who came to say
that her grandmother was worse."

"Ah! You are sure it was Mrs. Bray's granddaughter; you know the maid?"

"Know her, sir! Of course, know'd her ever since she was a baby; you
don't think that----"

"How long ago did this girl come?"

"About two hours, sir."

"And how long since your mistress left?"

"Directly after the little maid."

"And the servant who is gone with her is trustworthy?"

"Oh, yes, sir; why sir, you don't----"

"Where is this old woman's house? Tell me quickly."

He told me the direction, and assured me that by going across the park
I could reach it in less than ten minutes.

"I'll go and meet her," I said, as calmly as I could, "but if she
arrives before I do, say nothing of my being here. I shall not be much
later than she. But point out the road by which she will come."

He did so, and then wanted to send a servant with me; but of this I
would not hear. I wanted no prying, gossiping servants to be around.
The truth was I feared Wilfred had succeeded in sending Mrs. Bray's
granddaughter on a false errand, or else had watched her and found out
hers. At any rate, I felt sure that he would be cognisant of the
child's visit, and would use it as a means to carry out his designs.

I hurried across the park like a deer when the hounds are behind it,
cleared the fence that lay at its utmost extremity, and struck into a
footpath that led to the cottage. The way was very lonely. A few
straggling houses formed the village and the cottage was some distance
from them. Two weak, defenceless women could easily be met and
overpowered and without anyone being the wiser.

Wilfred was not likely to attempt to carry out his designs in daylight,
so if the summons to Mrs. Bray's bedside were genuine, the chances were
that Ruth would be allowed to pay the visit first. Perhaps she might
be there even now, and if I went a little faster I might be in time to
see her before she