emergencies," we had heard her say. She had assumed a strange habit
of calling men by their simple names, as men address each other.
When she did this to Mackinnon, who was much older than herself, we
had been all amused by it, and, other ladies of our party had taken
to call him "Mackinnon" when Mrs. Talboys was not by; but we had
felt the comedy to be less safe with O'Brien, especially when, on
one occasion, we heard him address her as Arabella. She did not
seem to be in any way struck by his doing so, and we supposed,
therefore, that it had become frequent between them. What reply he
made at the moment about the heart of a man I do not know;--and then
in a few minutes they disappeared through the gap in the wall.

None of us followed them, though it would have seemed the most
natural thing in the world to do so had nothing out of the way been
expected. As it was we remained there round the tomb quizzing the
little foibles of our dear friend, and hoping that O'Brien would be
quick in what he was doing. That he would undoubtedly get a slap in
the face--metaphorically--we all felt certain, for none of us
doubted the rigid propriety of the lady's intentions. Some of us
strolled into the buildings, and some of us got out on to the road;
but we all of us were thinking that O'Brien was very slow a
considerable time before we saw Mrs. Talboys reappear through the
gap.

At last, however, she was there, and we at once saw that she was
alone. She came on, breasting the hill with quick steps, and when
she drew near we could see that there was a frown as of injured
majesty on her brow. Mackinnon and his wife went forward to meet
her. If she were really in trouble it would be fitting in some way
to assist her; and of all women Mrs. Mackinnon was the last to see