What
a night it was! When Jabez heard his story and forced him to answer all
questions, I thought he would have given Willy up to the law there and
then. My lord, we have just lived since with a sword over our heads!"
Lord Hartledon remembered the sword that had been over his own head, and
sympathized with them from the depths of his heart.
"Tell me all," he said. "You are quite safe with me, Mrs. Gum."
"I don't know that there's much more to tell," she sighed. "We took the
best precautions we could, in a quiet way, having the holes in the
shutters filled up, and new locks put on the doors, lest people might
look in or step in, while he sat here of a night, which he took to do.
Jabez didn't like it, but I'm afraid I encouraged it. It was so lonely
for him, that shed, and so unhealthy! We sent away the regular servant,
and engaged one by day, so as to have the house to ourselves at night. If
a knock came to the door, Willy would slip out to the wood-house before
we opened it, lest it might be anybody coming in. He did not come in
every night--two or three times a-week; and it never was pleasant; for
Jabez would hardly open his mouth, unless it was to reproach him. Heaven
alone knows what I've had to bear!"
"But, Mrs. Gum, I cannot understand. Why could not Willy have declared
himself openly to the world?"
It was evidently a most painful question.
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