"I won't, Mr. Cornwall," said 'Melia Jane.
"When you met Miss Phœbe last night did she seem very much agitated?"
"Very much, Mr. Cornwall. More nor I can express. She was crying, but she didn't want me to see. She tried to keep her face from me."
"You did not attempt to stop her? You asked her no questions?"
"Lor', Mr. Cornwall, she didn't give me time to get out a single word! She said what she had got to say, and she ran away like lightning."
"Did she wear a veil?"
"Yes, Mr. Cornwall, she did. The veil that man as come 'ere this afternoon showed me, and arksed me whether Miss Phœbe wore it last night when she went away. 'Owever he got 'old of it is more than I can guess."
"When he asked you whether Miss Phœbe wore the veil, what did you say?"
"I sed, yes, she did. And he showed me a brooch, and wanted to git me to say that she wore that last night; but I didn't, because I ain't seen that brooch on Miss Phœbe for a long time."
"You could swear," said Fred, eagerly, "that she did not wear a brooch when you saw her last night?"