I was occupied in this way for more than an hour; and then, having
sealed my letter, went down with it to the hall, to put it on a
table where all letters intended to be taken to the post in the
morning were placed over-night.

It was nearly ten o'clock by this time, and I was startled by the
sound of the hall-door opening softly from without, while I was
putting down my letter. I looked round quietly, and saw Mrs. Darrell
coming in, with dripping garments.

'Good gracious me!' I cried involuntarily; 'have you been out all
this time in the rain, Mrs. Darrell?'

'Yes, I have been out in the rain, Miss Crofton,' she answered in a
vexed impatient tone. 'Is that so very shocking to your sober ideas
of propriety? I could not endure the house to-night. One has
feverish fancies sometimes--at least I have; and I preferred being
out in the rain to not being out at all. Good-night.'

She gave me a haughty nod, and ran up-stairs with a quick light
step. The old butler came to lock and bolt the hall-door as the
clock struck ten, according to unalterable custom; and I went back
to my room, wondering what could have kept Mrs. Darrell out so long--
whether she had been upon some special errand, or had only been
wandering about the grounds in a purposeless way.


For some days Milly went on very well; then there came a little
change for the worse. The symptoms were not quite so favourable. Mr.