“Last time, I was sure of it, was when I was walking on the esplanade at Avoncester with Colonel Keith,” said Rose, very anxious to turn aside and render her words inaudible.
“I suppose you can hardly tell when that was?”
“Yes, it was the day before you went away to Lord Keith’s wedding,” said Rose, looking to the Colonel.
“Had you seen him before?”
“Twice when I was out by myself, but it frightened me so that I never looked again.”
“Can you give me any guide to the time?”
She was clear that it had been after Colonel Keith’s first stay at Avonmouth, but that was all, and being asked if she had ever mentioned these meetings, “Only when Colonel Keith saw how frightened I was, and asked me.”
“Why were you frightened?” asked Mr. Grey, on a hint from the Colonel.
“Because I could not quite leave off believing the dreadful things Mr. Maddox and Maria said they would do to me if I told.”
“Told what?”