Bessie, hearing the noise, went out to ascertain the cause. Hearing what the news was, she rushed back into the cottage and precipitately burst into the sitting-room. As she opened the door, Harding signed to her to keep quiet.
"Here is Bessie, Jess. Will you stay with her?" he said.
She drew away from him slowly.
"No, don't go yet," she answered. "Tell me everything. I can hear it now."
Bessie slipped out of the room and softly closed the door after her.
Mrs. Eustace took the chair Harding placed for her and he sat down by her.
"Who—did it?" she asked.
"No one knows yet," he answered.
She looked at him quickly.
"Do they think—it was—himself?"