The next moment she was gazing with horrified eyes at the terrible physical wreck that had so startled poor Flower, who was now cowering at the door, afraid to enter.
"Go, leave me!" Mrs. Fielding cried, angrily, to Jewel.
"Mamma!"
"Go!" she reiterated, wildly; but Jewel stood her ground like a statue.
"I am not going until I know the meaning of this," she replied, firmly. "Why, mamma, your black hair has turned snowy-white in a few hours! You have become an old woman since last night!"
Mrs. Fielding caught up a loose tress of hair from her shoulder and stared at it with dilated eyes. A bitter cry broke from her lips.
"What does it matter if my hair has turned to snow? My heart changed to fire long since. Go, girl, leave me to myself!"
Jewel made no sign of obeying. She said, curiously:
"So our old nurse is dead, mamma?"