fretting.--If you're a friend of Mr. Holbrook's, you might tell him as
much, sir; that he's killing his pretty young wife by inches, by leaving
her so often alone in this dreary place. Goodness knows, it isn't that I
want to get rid of her. I like her so much that I sha'n't know what to do
with myself when she's gone. But I love her too well not to speak the
truth when I see a chance of its getting to the right ears."

"I am no friend of Mr. Holbrook's," Gilbert answered; "but I think you
are a good generous-hearted girl."

"You are a very foolish girl," Marian exclaimed; "and I am extremely
angry with you for talking such utter nonsense about me. I may have been
a little out of spirits sometimes in my husband's absence; but that is
all. I shall begin to think that you really do want to get rid of me,
Nell, say what you will."

"That's a pretty thing, when you know that I love you as dearly as if you
were my sister; to say nothing of father, who makes a profit by your
being here, and would be fine and angry with me for interfering. No, Mrs.
Holbrook; it's your own happiness I'm thinking of, and nothing else. And
I do say that it's a shame for a pretty young woman like you to be shut
up in a lonely old farm-house while your husband is away, enjoying
himself goodness knows where; and when he is here, I can't see that he's
very good company, considering that he spends the best part of his
time--"

The girl stopped abruptly, warned by a look from Marian. Gilbert saw this
look, and wondered what revelation of Mr. Holbrook's habits the bailiff's
daughter had been upon the point of making; he was so eager to learn
something of this man, and had been so completely baffled in all his