CHAPTER XXI.
MR. LARKIN'S TWO MOVES.
The hatch of the Steward's House stood open, and Mr. Larkin entered. There was a girl's voice crying in the room next the hall, and he opened the door.
The little girl was sobbing with her apron to her eyes, and hearing the noise she lowered it and looked at the door, when the lank form of the bald attorney and his sinister face peering in met her eyes, and arrested her lamentation with a new emotion.
"It's only I—Mr. Larkin," said he. He liked announcing himself wherever he went. "I want to know how Mrs. Mervyn is now."
"Gone dead, sir—about a quarter of an hour ago;" and the child's lamentation recommenced.
"Ha! very sad. The doctor here?"
"He's gone, sir."