This was whispered so softly that Lucy did not overhear. Nor, had it been spoken aloud, would she have attended. Durham had come forward and was speaking earnestly to her.
"I trust you will stop at the Hall for the present," he said, "until Bernard comes home."
"Will Bernard ever come home?" asked Lucy, sighing.
"Let us hope so. I doubt if he is dead, and I will not believe he is until his body is laid before me. As to the crime, I do not believe he committed it. However, I want you to stay here as the chatelaine of the Hall. All things will go on as before."
"Am I to stay, sir?" asked Mrs. Gilroy, coming forward.
"Yes! nor will the servants be changed. Of course, any of them who wish to leave can do so. But you—"
"I will stop on in my old position, if Miss Randolph wishes."
Lucy nodded. "Yes! let all things remain as they were," she said.
Mrs. Gilroy made a stiff curtsey and returned to the other servants, who then filed in an orderly manner out of the room. The relatives also took their leave, amongst them Julius, now smiling. At the door Lucy said something to him about Bernard. He smiled darkly.
"We have yet to prove that Bernard is alive," he said.