"'Don't attempt to shield her!' they cried, brandishing their fists in my face, some of them grazing my very nose.
"'Like mistress, like maid.' We hate you almost as much as we do her. None of us shall close our eyes to-night until Jessie Bain has been found; and if she lies dead under the snow-drifts, we will form a little band that will avenge her! If Jessie Bain has died from exposure to the terrible storm, Rosamond Lee, who caused it all, shall suffer for it! If she is not here by midnight—hark you, Janet! bear this message from us to your mistress, the haughty, heartless heiress—"
But what that message was, Janet whispered in her mistress's ear.
Chapter XXVI.
HUBERT VARRICK RESCUES JESSIE BAIN.
We must return to Jessie Bain.
The girl had scarcely proceeded a block through the blinding snow-drifts ere she began to grow chill and numb.