"She pressed her two hands hard against her eyes.
"I waited quietly until she had recovered her emotion; then I held out the little gold coin.
"'You will take me to the spot?' I asked.
"She clutched the coin suddenly in her hand.
"'This will buy what I live for,' she cried, with passion. 'I can drown thought with this. Come along, ma'am, we are not very far from the place here. I'll take you, and then go on home.'
"She started off, walking in front of me, and keeping well ahead. She went quickly, and yet with a sort of tremulous movement, as though she were not quite certain of herself. We crossed the Plain not far from the Court. I saw the house in the distance, and the curling smoke which rose up out of the trees.
"'Don't walk so fast,' I said. 'I am an old woman, and you take my breath away.' She slackened her steps, but very unwillingly.
"'The family are not often at the Court?' I queried.
"'No,' she answered with a start—'since the old Squire died the place has been most shut up.'
"'I happen to know the present Squire and his wife,' I said.