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She had never questioned Sabina Meldreth in person about the scene at her mother's death-bed on principle, Flossy spared herself all painful and exciting interviews; but she had had a few lines from Sabina sent to Beechfield Hall on the day of her mother's funeral. "Miss Vane knows something I don't know how much," Sabina had written. "The parson wanted to know, but couldn't get to hear.
Flossy did not believe him foolish enough or self-denying enough to do all that and in her estimate of her brother's character perhaps, after all, Flossy was very nearly right. Sabina Meldreth presented herself to Cynthia and Mrs. Jenkins that evening, and was not very graciously received. However, she proved herself both capable and willing, and was speedily acknowledged by Mrs.
The girl raised her head a little and spoke in a low but penetrating tone. "Miss Meldreth," she said, "excuse me, but you yourself are disturbing your mother far more than I have done. See she is beginning to be restless again; she cannot bear loud talking or altercation." The Rector was astonished by the firmness of her tone.
But she never came to church, and was reported to talk in an irreverent manner, which made the Rector long to get hold of her for five minutes. With his strong convictions, Maurice Evandale could not bear to hear without protest of the insolent and almost profane sallies of wit by which, to his mind, Sabina Meldreth dishonored her Creator.
Maybe Miss Vane has told him. If she has, the parish won't hold you nor me." "Abominably brusque and rude!" Flossy said to herself, as she drew the scrap of paper from its hiding-place. "But one cannot mould clay without soiling one's fingers, I suppose. It is months since Mrs. Meldreth died; and evidently Enid knows less than I supposed, or has made up her mind to keep the secret.
"Listen I will make a bargain with you. If you go, I will hide part of my own knowledge I will not let the woman Meldreth describe him accurately I will help you to put the detectives off the track; and, in return, you will go away at once where I care not and never see Hubert again. You may save your father then." "I will make no bargain with you," said Cynthia solemnly.
"Miss Meldreth, how dare you try to deceive a dying woman?" said the Rector, so sternly that even Sabina quailed a little before the deep low tones of his voice. "Yes, Mrs. Meldreth, Miss Enid Vane is here, and you can say all that you wish to say to her." "I am here, nurse," said Enid gently she had always been in the habit of addressing Mrs. Meldreth by that title. "Do you want me?"
"You know then that your mother has something on her mind? In God's name be silent and let her speak!" said Mr. Evandale. Enid looked up at her with wondering pity. Indeed Sabina Meldreth presented at that moment a strange and even tragic appearance. The hot unnatural color had left her cheeks, her ashy lips were strained back from her clenched teeth, her eyes were wide with an unspoken fear.
Evandale left the room, and sent in his absence a comfortable-looking old housekeeper with wine and biscuits, offers of tea and coffee, and all sorts of medicaments suitable to a young lady who had been faint and unwell as was only to be expected after witnessing the death of Mrs. Meldreth, that troublesome old person having expired quite suddenly that afternoon when Miss Vane and Mr.
Vane that now is came to me and said " She did not achieve her sentence. Sabina Meldreth had flown like a tigress at her mother's throat. But, fortunately for Mrs. Meldreth, a strong and resolute man was in the room.
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