"Truly, they do. Why did they fly at our approach?" asked Mrs. Stevens.
"Perhaps the foolish creatures thought their spell was broken," Charles answered.
"I am so affrighted," said Cora, shuddering. She was growing dizzy, and Mrs. Stevens said:
"Catch her, or she will fall."
He bore her to the spring and, kneeling by the brook, bathed the fair white brow, until she opened her eyes and murmured:
"Mother!"
Many times afterward, both mother and son, recalling the incident, wondered why she, for the first time, had called for her mother. At all other times and on all other occasions, the maid persistently denied that she knew aught of her mother.
A few days later, her father, who had mysteriously and unceremoniously disappeared, returned. No one asked any questions as to where he had been, or what business had engaged his attention. He gave the widow some golden guineas for her care of his child. That night Charles came accidentally upon the father and daughter in the garden. They were sitting in a green bower, partially screened from view, so he approached to within a few paces without being seen.
"Father, have you heard anything more?" she asked.
"No."