"But if you were innocent you must not trouble yourself about it; and besides, whatever the harm was, it has not hurt me, so that you must make your mind easy."
"The evil may be done, and yet unfelt, and may be felt later on, and the evil may not be done yet."
"I do not clearly understand you."
"I do not intend you should. I do not know why I have spoken so much. I cannot say more. I have merely called to deliver into your hands a parcel of some consequence. The contents of this parcel is yours. I said I cannot do much for you. I can do no more than give you this. You must promise me not to open this parcel until to-morrow morning. You need not be afraid of it. The things in it are good things. You promise?" The woman held out her hand with a small parcel in it.
"Yes," answered Maud, taking the parcel.
At that moment the door opened, and a voice said:
"I beg your pardon, Miss Midharst; I did not know there was anyone here."
Maud turned round, and saw Henry Walter Grey smiling and bowing in the doorway. With the handle of the door still in his hand, he took a backward step, when the old woman said:
"Come in. I have finished with Miss Midharst."
At the sound of the voice Grey sprang back a step, thrust his head forward, and uttered a low cry of surprise and pain.