She had lain thus a good half-hour, when a gentle tap came to the door.
"Who is that?" said she.
"Mrs. Menteith," the jailer's wife replied, softly, and asked leave to come in.
Now this Mrs. Menteith had been very kind to her, and stoutly maintained her innocence. Mrs. Gaunt rose, and invited her in.
"Madam," said Mrs. Menteith, "what I come for, there is a person below who much desires to see you."
"I beg to be excused," was the reply. "He must go to my solicitor at the 'Angel,' Mr. Houseman."
Mrs. Menteith retired with that message, but in about five minutes returned to say that the young woman declined to go to Mr. Houseman, and begged hard to see Mrs. Gaunt. "And, dame," said she, "if I were you, I'd let her come in; 'tis the honestest face, and the tears in her soft eyes, at you denying her: 'O dear, dear!' said she, 'I cannot tell my errand to any but her.'"
"Well, well," said Mrs. Gaunt; "but what is her business?"
"If you ask me, I think her business is your business. Come, dame, do see the poor thing; she is civil spoken, and she tells me she has come all the way out of Lancashire o' purpose."
Mrs. Gaunt recoiled, as if she had been stung.