"Will Lord Maxwell continue the pension?" said Mary.
Marcella stopped again, involuntarily.
"So that was his doing?" she said. "I supposed as much."
"You did not know?" cried Mary, in distress. "Oh! I believe I ought not to have said anything about it."
"I always guessed it," said Marcella, shortly, and they walked on in silence.
Presently they found themselves in front of Mrs. Jellison's very trim and pleasant cottage, which lay farther along the common, to the left of the road to the Court. There was an early pear-tree in blossom over the porch, and a swelling greenery of buds in the little garden.
"Will you come in?" said Mary. "I should like to see Isabella Westall."
Marcella started at the name.
"How is she?" she asked.
"Just the same. She has never been in her right mind since. But she is quite harmless and quiet."