"She—lies—in Carlisle gaol?" repeated Mercy, looking all confused.
"They accuse her of murdering her husband."
Mercy uttered a scream, and catching her child up off the floor, began to rock herself and moan over it.
"No, no, no," cried Sir George, "she is innocent, she is innocent."
"What is that to me?" cried Mercy, wildly, "He is murdered, he is dead, and my child an orphan." And so she went on moaning and rocking herself.
"But I tell you he is not dead at all," cried Sir George. "'Tis all a mistake. When did you see him last?"
"More than six weeks ago."
"I mean, when did you hear from him last?"
"Never, since that day."
Sir George groaned aloud at this intelligence.