A little confusion arose in Jelly's mind. Thought is rapid. Mrs. Rane's death, as she supposed, could not possibly have occurred before morning: the neglect, as to the matches, was last night. But, in the present shock she passed this over. Her sharp tone disappeared as by magic: her expression changed to sadness.
"Dead? When did she die, Dinah?"
"It was about nine o'clock last night, they think. And she lay an hour after that in her bed, Jelly, before it was found out."
On hearing this, Jelly's first impression was that Dinah must be trifling with her. The girl came from the fire with the coffee, the tears visible.
"Now what d'ye mean, girl? Mrs. Rane didn't die last night--as I can answer for."
"Oh but she did, Jelly. Dr. Rane went up to her at ten o'clock--he had been out till then--and found her dead. I can tell you, I didn't half like going all the way up to bed by myself to that top floor, and me alone in the house, knowing she was lying there at the very next door."
Jelly paused to take in the full sense of the words, staring the while at Dinah. What could it all mean?
"You must have taken leave of your senses," she said, as she began to pour out the coffee.
"I'm sure I've not," returned Dinah. "Why?"
"To tell me Mrs. Rane died last night. How did you pick up the tale?"