"I go willingly. Farewell forever, Margaret! I do not curse; time will do that, and I can wait."
He dashed out of the room, pale and fierce with contending passions, and hurried from her presence.
Margaret stood upright until the door closed, then her hands fell to her side, a low moan broke from her lips, and she dropped senseless upon the couch.
It was near sunset when she came to herself again; Sybil Chase was bending over her, bathing her forehead and using words of tender solicitude, while a little way off stood the new housekeeper, apparently quite overcome with distress.
Margaret pushed Miss Chase away, and would have left the room without a word, but Sybil caught her arm, while a strange light shot into her eyes.
"I must detain you a moment," she said. "Your uncle has been seized with a frightful attack; the physician is with him now."
"What caused it?" demanded Margaret.
"Mr. Laurence was with him," faltered Sybil.
Margaret turned upon her with cold scrutiny.
"Miss Chase," she said, "I believe on my soul that you are at the bottom of all this trouble. I desire you to quit the house at once."