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The boy seated himself on the extremest edge of the bench, with his hat on his knees, and Jane Payland left him. She went straight to the suite of apartments occupied by Lady Eversleigh. Honoria did not raise her eyes when Jane Payland entered the room. There was a gloomy abstraction in her face, and melancholy engrossed her thoughts.

It was in the wintry dusk that these two travellers arrived at Frimley. Jane Payland walked to one of the narrow, old-fashioned windows, and looked out into the street, where lights were burning dimly here and there. "What a strange old place, ma'am," she said. Honoria had forbidden her to say "my lady" since their departure from Raynham.

I have confided my secret to you, Jane Payland, because I think you are faithfully devoted to my interests. You know now why I am resolved to remain at Raynham Castle; and you think my decision wise, do you not?" "Well, yes; I certainly do, my lady," answered Jane, after some moments of hesitation. "And now leave me. Good night! I have kept you long this evening, I see by that timepiece.

Maunders," began James Harwood, with extreme solemnity, "it is given out that Lady Eversleigh is gone abroad to the Continent wherever that place may be situated and a very nice place I dare say it is, when you get there; and it is likewise given out that Miss Payland have gone with her." "Well, what then?" "I really wish you hadn't such a habit of taking people up short, Mr.

"Pray go to him at once," she urged; "don't lose a moment." Mr. Larkspur left the room, and Lady Eversleigh dismissed Jane Payland, and awaited his return in an agony of impatience. After the lapse of half an hour, Mr. Larkspur appeared. There were actually some slight traces of emotion in his face, and the colour had lessened considerably in his vulture-like beak.

"No, no," said Andrew Larkspur, "but you must not get so excited; keep quiet tell me all you know of Wayman, and then we shall see our way." At this point of the conversation Jane Payland knocked at the door of her mistress's sitting-room, and the interview between Honoria and the police-officer was interrupted.

Early upon the morning after the funeral, a lad from the village of Raynham presented himself at the principal door of the servants' offices, and asked to see Lady Eversleigh's maid. The young woman who filled that office was summoned, and came to inquire the business of the messenger. Her name was Jane Payland; she was a Londoner by birth, and a citizen of the world by education.

So Lady Eversleigh and Jane Payland travelled up to town again, and took up their old quarters. And Mr. Larkspur returned, and resumed his room and his accustomed habits. But before he had been many hours in London, he had ascertained, by the evidence of his own eyes, that Victor Carrington was, as he had predicted, in town, living with his mother, and "as right as a trivet."

From her lady's answers, the waiting-maid ascertained that she had no idea of seeking any relaxation in change of scene, but purposed to reside at Raynham for at least one year. Jane Payland wondered at the decision of her mistress's manner. She had imagined that Lady Eversleigh would be eager to leave a place in which she found herself the object of disapprobation and contempt.

Go to him immediately, and ask him to favour me with an interview. I wish to consult him on a matter of business." "Yes, ma'am," answered Miss Payland, looking inquisitively at the ashen face of her mistress. "There's something fresh this morning," she muttered to herself, as she tripped lightly up the stairs to do her bidding. Mr. Larkspur or Mr.