“You’ll see presently, perhaps,” answered Ned, who betrayed his ever-increasing excitement only by the growing curtness of his tone.
For he perceived, peering down into the gloom where the men were working, that the digging and delving had suddenly ceased, and that, in the remotest corner of the little crypt, both were kneeling down examining the lower part of the wall. Then one of the men struck a match, and a moment later his fellow workman came to the opening.
“We’ve found something, sir!” said he, in a low voice.
“Eh? What?” asked old Mr. Williams, who began to have an idea that he was being made a fool of.
There was a sort of a rustle and flutter among the bystanders; for though all had not heard the workman’s words all knew that something had happened. Ned Mitchell, who was now so much excited that he dared not trust himself to speak, beckoned to the doctor. The latter, who was on the alert, came up immediately. He was an active, brisk little man, sparing of words.
“I think we shall want you now, doctor, please,” said Ned, in a voice which was getting hoarse and rasping. “What is it you have found, mate?” he went on, turning to the workman.
“It’s a body, we think, your honor—the body of a woman.”
The vicar, on entering the churchyard, had locked the gate, to keep out the swarm of unruly boys who always ooze out of the pores of the earth when anything of an unusual nature is going on. So that few people but those most interested in this discovery were present to hear the announcement of it. These all pressed forward until they stood—a silent, excited group—close to the crypt entrance. Mrs. Brander, although she remained perfectly quiet, laid her hand, either from sympathy or for support, on the arm of her brother-in-law. Vernon himself looked if possible more pale and haggard than ever, but his face wore its habitual expression when in repose, a look of grave and somewhat cynical good humor. The only noticeable thing about his demeanor was his careful avoidance of Olivia Denison; he would not even meet her eyes. The girl herself was white to the lips and cold from head to foot. Fred Williams, in a cheerful voice offered her the support of his arm.
“These are nasty scenes for a lady to be present at,” said he, with a little compunction in his voice. “Won’t you let me take you away?”
She shook her head, and signed for him to leave her, which he did reluctantly and with some shame. In the meantime the gentlemen had descended into the crypt, with the exception of Vernon, who was detained by Mrs. Brander. By the light of a lantern and a torch, a ghastly sight was soon disclosed to view.