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Under　all　this　routine　she　had　paroxysms　of　secret　misery；　and　he　was　in　tortures。

These　continued　until　the　eve　of　the　wedding；　and　then　he　breathed　freely。　　No　letter　had　come　from　the　United　States；　and　to…morrow　was　the　wedding…day。　　The　chances　were　six　to　one　no　letter　came　that　day；　and；　even　if　one　should；　he　had　now　an　excuse　ready　for　keeping　Lally　on　the　premises　that　particular　morning。　　At　one　o'clock　he　would　be　flying　south　with　his　bride。

He　left　the　villa　to　dress　for　dinner。　　During　this　interval　Jael　Dence　called。

The　housemaid　knocked　at　Grace's　doorshe　was　dressingand　told　her　Jael　wished　to　see　her。

Grace　was　surprised；　and　much　disturbed。　　It　flashed　on　her　in　a　moment　that　this　true　and　constant　lover　of　Henry　Little　had　come　to　enjoy　her　superiority。　　She　herself　had　greatly　desired　this　meeting　once；　but　now　it　could　only　serve　to　mortify　her。　　The　very　thought　that　this　young　woman　was　near　her　set　her　trembling；　but　she　forced　herself　to　appear　calm；　and；　turning　to　her　maid；　said；　〃Tell　her　I　can　see　no　one　to…day。〃

The　lady's　maid　gave　this　message　to　the　other　servant；　and　she　went　down…stairs　with　it。

The　message；　however；　had　not　been　gone　long　when　the　desire　to　put　a　question　to　Jael　Dence　returned　strongly　upon　Grace　Carden。

She　yielded　to　an　uncontrollable　impulse；　and　sent　her　maid　down　to　say　that　she　would　speak　to　Jael　Dence；　in　her　bedroom；　the　last　thing　at　night。

〃The　last　thing　at　night！〃　said　Jael；　coloring　with　indignation；　〃and　where　am　I　to　find　a　bed　after　that？〃

〃Oh；〃　said　the　late　footman；　now　butler；　〃you　shall　not　leave　the　house。　　I'll　manage　that　for　you　with　the　housekeeper。〃

At　half…past　eleven　o'clock　that　night　Grace　dismissed　her　maid；　and　told　her　to　bring　Jael　Dence　to　her。

Jael　came；　and　they　confronted　each　other　once　more。

〃You　can　go；〃　said　Grace　to　the　maid。

They　were　alone；　and　eyed　each　other　strangely。

〃Sit　down；〃　said　Grace；　coldly。

〃No；　thank　you；〃　said　Jael；　firmly。　　〃I　shall　not　stay　long　after　the　way　I　have　been　received。〃

〃And　how　do　you　expect　to　be　received？〃

〃As　I　used　to　be。　　As　a　poor　girl　who　once　saved　HIS　life；　and　nearly　lost　her　own；　through　being　his　true　and　faithful　servant。〃

〃Faithful　to　him；　but　not　to　me。〃

Jael's　face　showed　she　did　not　understand　this。

〃Yes；〃　said　Grace；　bitterly；　〃you　are　the　real　cause　of　my　marrying　Mr。　Coventry；　whom　I　don't　love；　and　never　can　love。　　There；　read　that。　　I　can't　speak　to　you。　　You　look　all　candor　and　truth；　but　I　know　what　you　are：　all　the　women　in　that　factory　knew　about　you　and　himread　that。〃　　She　handed　her　the　anonymous　letter；　and　watched　her　like　an　eagle。

Jael　read　the　poison；　and　colored　a　little；　but　was　not　confounded。

〃Do　you　believe　this；　Miss　Carden？〃

〃I　did　not　believe　it　at　first；　but　too　many　people　have　confirmed　it。　　Your　own　conduct　has　confirmed　it；　my　poor　girl。　　This　is　cruel　of　me。〃

〃Never　mind；〃　said　Jael；　resolutely。　　〃We　have　gone　too　far　to　stop。　My　conduct！　　What　conduct；　if　you　please？〃

〃They　all　say　that；　when　you　found　he　was　no　more；　you　attempted　self…destruction。〃

〃Ah；〃　cried　Jael；　like　a　wounded　hare；　〃they　must　tell　you　that！〃　and　she　buried　her　face　in　her　hands。

Now　this　was　a　young　woman　endowed　by　nature　with　great　composure；　and　a　certain　sobriety　and　weight；　so；　when　she　gave　way　like　that；　it　produced　a　great　effect　on　those　who　knew　her。

Grace　sighed；　and　was　distressed。　　But　there　was　no　help　for　it　now。　She　awaited　Jael's　reply；　and　Jael　could　not　speak　for　some　time。　She　conquered　her　agitation；　however；　at　last；　and　said；　in　a　low　voice；　〃Suppose　you　had　a　sister；　whom　you　loved　dearlyand　then　you　had　a　quarrel　with　her；　and　neither　of　you　much　to　blame；　the　fault　lay　with　a　third　person；　and　suppose　you　came　home　suddenly　and　found　that　sister　had　left　England　in　trouble；　and　gone　to　the　other　end　of　the　worldwould　not　that　cut　you　to　the　heart？〃

〃Indeed　it　would。　　How　correctly　you　speak。　　Now　who　has　been　teaching　you？〃

〃Mrs。　Little。〃

〃Ah！〃

〃You　HAVE　a　father。　　Suppose　you　left　him　for　a　month；　and　then　came　back　and　found　him　dead　and　buriedthink　of　thatburied！〃

〃Poor　girl！〃

〃And　all　this　to　fall　on　a　poor　creature　just　off　a　sick…bed；　and　scarcely　right　in　her　head。　　When　I　found　poor　Mr。　Henry　was　dead；　and　you　at　death's　door；　I　crawled　home　for　comfort；　and　there　I　found　desolation：　my　sister　gone　across　the　sea；　my　father　in　the　churchyard。　　I　wandered　about　all　night；　with　my　heavy　heart　and　distraught　brain；　and　at　last　they　found　me　in　the　river。　　They　may　say　I　threw　myself　in；　but　it　is　my　belief　I　swooned　away　and　fell　in。　　I　wouldn't　swear；　though；　for　I　remember　nothing　of　it。　　What　does　it　prove　against　me？〃

〃Not　much；　indeed；　by　itself。　　But　they　all　say　you　were　shut　up　with　him　for　hours。〃

〃And　that　is　true；　ten　hours；　every　day。　　He　was　at　war　with　these　trades；　and　his　own　workmen　had　betrayed　him。　　He　knew　I　was　as　strong　as　a　man　at　some　kinds　of　workof　course　I　can't　strike　blows；　and　hurt　people　like　a　manso　he　asked　me；　would　I　help　him　grind　saws　with　his　machine　on　the　slyclandestinely；　I　mean。　Well；　I　did；　and　very　easy　work　it　waschild's　play　to　me　that　had　wrought　on　a　farm。　　He　gave　me　six　pounds　a　week　for　it。　　That's　all　the　harm　we　did　together；　and；　as　for　what　we　said；　let　me　tell　you　a　first…rate　workman；　like　poor　Mr。　Henry；　works　very　silently；　that　is　where　they　beat　us　women。　　I　am　sure　we　often　ground　a　dozen　saws；　and　not　a　word；　except　upon　the　business。　　When　we　did　talk；　it　was　sure　to　be　about　you。　　Poor　lad；　the　very　last　time　we　wrought　together；　I　mind　he　said；　'Well　done；　Jael；　that's　good　work；　it　brings　me　an　inch　nearer　HER。'　　And　I　said；　All　the　better；　and　I'd　give　him　another　hour　or　two　every　day　if　he　liked。　　That　very　evening　I　took　him　his　tea　at　seven　o'clock。　　He　was　writing　letters；　one　was　to　you。　　He　was　just　addressing　it。　　'Good…night；　Jael；'　said　he。　　'You　have　been　a　good　friend　to　her　and　me。'〃

〃Oh！　did　he　say　that？　　What　became　of　that　letter？〃

〃Upon　my　soul；　he　did；　ay；　and　it　was　his　last　word　to　me　in　this　world。　　But　you　are　not　of　his　mind；　it　seems。　　The　people　in　the　factory！　　I　know　they　used　to　say　we　were　sweethearts。　　You　can't　wonder　at　that；　they　didn't　know　about　you；　nor　any　of　our　secrets；　and；　of　course；　vulgar　folk　like　them　could　not　guess　the　sort　of　affection　I　had　for　poor　Mr。　Henry；　but　a　lady　like　you　should　not　go　by　their　lights。　　Besides；　I　was　always　open　with　you。　　Once　I　had　a　different　feeling　for　him：　did　I　hide　it　from　you？　　When　I　found　he　loved　you；　I　set　to　work　to　cure　myself。　　I　did　cure　myself　before　your　very　eyes；　and；　after　that；　you　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　yourself　to　go　and　doubt　me。　　There；　now；　I　have　made　her　cry。〃

Her　own　voice　faltered　a　moment；　and　she　said；　with　gentle　dignity；　〃Well；　I　forgive　you；　for　old　kindness　past；　but　I　shall　not　sleep　under　this　roof　now。　　God　bless　you；　and　give　you　many　happy　days　yet　with　this　gentleman　you　are　going　to　marry。　　Farewell。〃

She　was　actually　going；　but　Grace　caught　her　by　the　arm。　　〃No；　no；　you　shall　not　leave　me　so。〃

〃Ay；　but　I　will。〃　　And　Jael's　eyes；　so　mild　in　general；　began　to　sparkle　with　anger；　at　being　detained　against　her　will；　but；　generous　to　the　last；　she　made　no　use　of　her　great　strength　to　get　clear　from　Grace。

〃You　will　not　go；　if　you　are　the　woman　you　were。　　I　believe　your　words；　I　believe　your　honest　face；　I　implore　your　forgiveness。　　I　am　the　most　miserable　creature　in　this　world。　　Pray　do　not　abandon　me。〃

This　appeal；　made　with　piteous　gestures　and　streaming　eyes；　overpowered　Jael　Dence；　and　soon　they　were　seated；　rocking　together；　and　Grace　pouring　out　her　heart。

Jael　then　learned；　to　her　dismay；　that　Grace's　belief　in　Henry's　falsehood　was　a　main　cause　of　this　sudden　marriage。　　Had　she　believed　her　Henry　true；　she　would　have　mourned　him；　as　a　widow；　two　years　at　least。

The　unhappy　young　lady　lamented　her　precipitation；　and　the　idea　of　marrying　Mr。　Coventry　to…morrow　became　odious　to　her。　　She　asked　Jael　wildly　whether　she　should　not　be　justified　in　putting　an　end　to　her　life。

Jael　consoled　her　all　she　could；　and；　at　her　request；　slept　in　the　same　bed　with　her。　　Indeed　she　was　afraid　to　leave　her；　for　she　was　wild　at　times；　and　said　she　would　prefer　to　be　married　to　that　dead　hand　people　said　was　at　the　Town　hall；　and　then　thrown　into　one　grave　with　it。　　〃That's　the　bridal　I　long　for；〃　said　she。

In　the　morning　she　was　calmer；　and　told　Jael　she　thought　she　was　doing　right。

〃I　shall　be　neither　more　nor　less　wretched　for　marrying　this　poor　man；〃　said　she：　〃and　I　shall　make　two　people　happy；　two　people　that　deserve　the　sacrifice　I　make。〃

So；　after　all；　the　victim　went　calmly。

Early　in　the　morning　came　a　letter　from　Dr。　Fynes。　　He　was　confined　by　gout；　and　sorry　to　say　the　ceremony　he　had　hoped　to　perform　must　be　done　by　his　curate。

Now　this　curate　was　quite　a　stranger　to　Grace；　and　indeed　to　most　people　in　Hillsborough。　　Dr。　Fynes　himself　knew　nothing　about　him　except　that　he　had　come　in　answer　to　his　inquiry　for　a　curate；　had　brought　good　letters　of　recommendation；　and　had　shown　himself　acquainted　with　the　learned　doctor's　notes　to　Apollonius　Rhodius；　on　which　several　grounds　the　doctor；　who　was　himself　a　better　scholar　than　a　priest；　had　made　him　his　curate；　and　had　heard　no　complaints；　except　from　a　few　puritanical　souls。　　These　he　looked　on　as　barbarians；　and　had　calmly　ignored　them　and　their　prejudices　ever　since　he　transferred　his　library　from　St。　John's　College；　Cambridge；　to　St。　Peter's　Rectory；　and　that　was　thirty　years　ago。

This　sudden　substitute　of　an　utter　stranger　for　Dr。　Fynes　afflicted　Grace　Carden　not　a　little；　and　her　wedding…day　began　with　a　tear　or　two　on　that　account。　　But；　strange　as　it　may　appear；　she　lived　to　alter　her　mind；　and　to　thank　and　bless　Mr。　Beresford　for　taking　her　old　friend's　place　on　that　great　occasion。

But　while　the　bride　dressed　for　church；　and　her　bridemaids　and　friends　drove　up；　events　were　taking　place　to　deal　with　which　I　must　retrograde　a　step。

Jael　Dence　having　gone　to　Woodbine　Villa；　Mrs。　Little　and　her　brother　dined　tete…a…tete；　and　the　first　question　she　asked　was；　〃Why　where