"Did Mr. Webb think him much changed?"
"Webb had never seen him before. He thought he looked curiously ill and feeble, so far as he could see of him in the darkened room. The Squire lay on the pillow, his black velvet skull-cap on, and his long white hair straggling on each side his shrunken face. Webb, describing this to me when I reached home at night, said he looked like a fine old picture. His voice had sunk to little more than a whisper; but his mind was clear nay, vigorous."
The tears rose to Ella's eyes. She could see, in imagination, her poor uncle lying there.
"No, my dear young lady, rely upon it, there's no flaw in your succession to Heron Dyke," concluded the experienced lawyer. "My advice to you is, think no more of the affair. There's nothing in it, save, as Shakespeare says, 'A pure invention of the enemy.' Set your mind at rest."
Ella, somewhat reassured, though not wholly, went on her way. She could not forget the intense truth that had shone forth in Hubert Stone's countenance and tones. That _he_ believed what he had asserted had been to her mind clearly apparent.
It was a few days subsequent to this visit to Mr. Daventry, that Miss Winter was engaged to take afternoon tea at The Lilacs. Some ladies were forming themselves into a committee for the purpose of ameliorating the condition of the poor of Nullington during the ensuing winter, and they were to meet that afternoon, Thursday, at Mrs. Ducie's. However, Miss Winter could not go, some friends having come to the Hall, unexpectedly, from a distance, and she sent Mrs. Toynbee to represent her.
So the new carriage from London, that had been so great an eyesore to old Aaron, conveyed her thither in state. Mrs. Toynbee enjoyed her afternoon immensely: she met Lady Cleeve, Maria Kettle, and other ladies with whom she had a slight acquaintance, who were already there. As Miss Winter's representative she found herself and her opinions deferred to, which was what she liked. Moreover, Mrs. Toynbee had some extraordinary news to tell, and was bursting with its importance.
Not until quite the last did she get a suitable opportunity; so much close discussion of the business in hand had taken place. Philip Cleeve had come in then; his mother had asked him to call for her. He was the only gentleman present, Captain Lennox having gone to Norwich. A remark made by some one gave the opportunity to Mrs. Toynbee.
"We had a most startling adventure at the Hall this morning," began she: and at the word "startling," the whole company fell into silence, and looked up. "Several rooms at the Hall, as I am given to understand, have been shut up for a great number of years; it was the late Mr. Denison's pleasure to keep them so----"
"Is Katherine Keen found?" interrupted one of the listeners, in excitement.