"Now, Miss Hyde, I do not see that our presence will be of further use," said the widow, gliding toward the door.
I stepped back to avoid contact even with her garments. My heart was full of bitter loathing. I grew cold as she passed me, and answered her smile with a look that frightened it from her lips. We passed through Lottie's room, but I could not force myself to enter it till even her shadow had disappeared.
CHAPTER XLVI.
LOTTIE OWNS HERSELF BEATEN.
When the woman was gone, I went in and spoke to Lottie, who had curled herself up in the window-seat, with her knees drawn up, and both hands locked over them.
"Don't speak to me; don't anybody dare to speak to me!" she said, motioning me off with her head. "I ain't worth noticing. I'd give something to any decent person that'd whip me within an inch of my life, or bite me—I don't care which—so long as it hurt."
"Lottie," I whispered, pressing my hand on her shoulder to enforce what I said, "do not speak a word of this till I have seen you. Come up to my room."
"I won't. Nothing on earth shall take me out of her sight again. There'll be murder if I do."
"Hush! Lottie, I do not understand all this."