The elder sister asked no question.  And when they had left the house their walk was as silent as their departure had been.  It required all their attention to hold their course through the darkness of the night, the intensity of the cold and the fury of the wind.  It was not until they had reached the shelter of their poor hut, drawn the fire-brands together and sat down before the cheerful blaze, that Nora threw herself sobbing into the arms of her sister.

Hannah gathered her child closer to her heart and caressed her in silence until her fit of sobbing had exhausted itself, and then she inquired: 

“What did Mrs. Brudenell want with you, dear?”

“Oh, Hannah, she had heard of Herman’s visits here!  She questioned and cross-questioned me.  I would not admit anything, but then I could not deny anything either.  I could give her no satisfaction, because you know my tongue was tied by my promise.  Then, she suspected me of being a bad girl.  And she cross-questioned me more severely than ever.  Still I could give her no satisfaction.  And her suspicions seemed to be confirmed.  And she looked at me—­oh! with such terrible eyes, that they seemed to burn me up.  I know, not only my poor face, but the very tips of my ears seemed on fire.  And suddenly she snatched my shawl off me, and oh! if her look was terrible before, it was consuming now!  Hannah, I seemed to shrivel all up in the glare of that look, like some poor worm in the flame!” gasped Nora, with a spasmodic catch of her breath, as she once more clung to the neck of her sister.

“What next?” curtly inquired Hannah.

“She rang the bell and ordered Jovial to ’put this vile creature (meaning me) out’; and if ever I dared to show my face on the premises again, to send for a constable to take me up.”

“The insolent woman!” exclaimed the elder sister, with a burst of very natural indignation.  “She will have you taken up by a constable if ever you show your face there again, will he?  We’ll see that!  I shall tell Herman Brudenell all about it to-morrow as soon as he comes!  He must not wait until his another goes to Washington!  He must acknowledge you as his wife immediately.  To-morrow morning he must take you up and introduce you as such to his mother.  If there is to be an explosion, let it come!  The lady must be taught to know who it is that she has branded with ill names, driven from the house and threatened with a constable!  She must learn that it is an honorable wife whom she has called a vile creature; the mistress of the house whom she turned out of doors, and finally that it is Mrs. Herman Brudenell whom she has threatened with a constable!” Hannah had spoken with such vehemence and rapidity that Nora had found no opportunity to stop her.  She could not, to use a common phrase, “get in a word edgeways.”  It was only now when Hannah paused for breath that Nora took up the discourse with: