‘What is all this?’ asked Mr. Kendal.
‘I do not know,’ mournfully answered Sophy.
Albinia left the library, and taking a candle, went into the empty drawing-room. The moonlight shone white upon the table, and showed the large cut-glass ink-bottle in a pool of its own contents; and the sofa-cover had black spots and stains as if it had partaken of the libation.
Sophy saw, and stood like a statue.
‘You know nothing, I am sure,’ said Albinia.
‘Nothing!’ repeated Sophy, with a blank look of wretchedness.
‘If you please, ma’am,’ said the nurse at the door, ‘could you be kind enough to come to Mrs. Meadows, she will be quieter when she has seen you?’
‘Sophy dear, we must leave it now,’ said Albinia. ‘You must see to their tea, they have had nothing since breakfast.’
She hastened to the sick room, where she found Mrs. Meadows in a painful state of agitation and excitement. The nurse said that until this evening, she had been as usual, but finding that Mrs. Kendal was expected, she had been very restless; Miss Kendal was out, and neither Miss Sophy nor Mr. Gilbert could soothe her.
She eagerly grasped the hand of Albinia who bent down to kiss her, and asked how she had been.