A sort of vague alarm fell upon the other two, and they waited, in utter confusion, for what might follow.
But the mother was not ready to suspect so horrible a thing as her son's death. She took a more obvious view, and inveighed bitterly against Grace Carden.
She questioned Raby as to the cause, but it was Jael who answered her. “I believe nobody knows the rights of it but Miss Carden herself.”
“The cause is her utter fickleness; but she never really loved him. My poor Henry!”
“Oh yes, she did,” said Raby. “She was at death's door a few months ago.”
“At death's door for one man, and now going to marry another!”
“Why not?” said Raby, hard pushed; “she is a woman.”
“And why did you not tell me till now?” asked Mrs. Little, loftily ignoring her brother's pitiable attempt at a sneer.
Raby's reply to this was happier.
“Why, what the better are you for knowing it now? We had orders not to worry you unnecessarily. Had we not, Jael?”