‘I’m sorry,’ said Mrs. Bentley, ’that I am not Mr. Harding.  It must be very gratifying to one’s feelings to be able to help to solve a literary difficulty, particularly if one cannot write oneself.’

’But you can—­I’m sure you can.  I remember asking your advice once before; it was excellent, and was of immense help to me.  Are you sure it will not bore you?  I shall be so much obliged if you will.’

‘Bore me!  No, it won’t bore me,’ said Mrs. Bentley.  ’I’m sure I feel very much flattered.’  The colour mounted to her cheek, a smile was on her lips; but it went out at the sight of Emily’s face.

’Then come up to my study.  We shall have just time to get through the first act before dinner.’

Mrs. Bentley hesitated; and, noticing her hesitation, Hubert looked surprised.  At that moment Emily said—­

‘May I not come too?’

’Well, I don’t know, Emily.  You see that we wish to see if there is anything in the play that a young girl should not hear.’

’Always an excuse to get rid of me.  You want to be alone.  I never come into the room that you do not stop speaking.  Oh, I can bear it no longer!’

‘My dear Emily!’

’Don’t touch me!  Go to her; shut yourself up together.  Don’t think of me.  I can bear it no longer!’ And she fled from the room, leaving behind her a sensation of alarm and pity.  Hubert and Mrs. Bentley stood looking at each other, both at a loss for words.  At last he said—­

’That poor child will cry herself into her grave.  Have you noticed how poorly she is looking?’

’Not noticed!  But you do not know half of it.  It has been going on now a long time.  You don’t know half!’

’I have noticed that things are not settling down as I hoped they would.  It really has become quite dreadful to see that poor face looking reproachfully at you all day long.  And I am quite at a loss to know what’s the right thing to do.’

’It is worse than you think.  You have not noticed that we hardly speak now?’

‘You—­who were such friends—­surely not!’

Then she told him hurriedly, in brief phrases, of the change that had taken place in Emily in the last three months.  ’It was only the other night she accused me of going after you, of having designs upon you.  It is very painful to have to tell you these things, but I have no choice in the matter.  She lay on her bed crying, saying that every one hated her, that she was thoroughly miserable.  Somehow she seems naturally an unhappy child.  She was unhappy at home before she came here; but then I believe she had excellent reasons,—­her mother was a very terrible person.  However, all that is past; we have to consider the present now.  She accused me of having designs on you, insisting all the while that every one was talking about it, and that she was fretting solely because of my good name.  Of course, it is very ridiculous; but it is very pitiful, and will end badly if we don’t take means to put a stop to it.  I shouldn’t be surprised if she went off her head.  We ought to have the best medical advice.’