we were talking of you; you had just gone away to be an ambassador, or something, and then we spoke of the wild, strange, black man who had crept into the shed; and Jabez, I remember, said he should acquaint Mr. Marris, if the fellow did not take himself off.  I had seen him that very evening, at dusk, for the first time, when his great black face rose up against mine, nearly frightening me to death.  Jabez was angry at such a man’s being there, and said he should go up to Hartledon in the morning and see the steward.  Just then there came a tap at the kitchen door, and Jabez went to it.  It was the man; he had watched the servant out, and knew we were alone; and he came into the kitchen, and asked if we did not know him.  Jabez did; he had seen Willy later than I had, and he recognized him; and the man took off his black hair and great black whiskers, and I saw it was Willy, and nearly fainted dead away.”

There was a pause.  Lord Hartledon did not speak, and she resumed, after a little indulgence in her grief.

“And since then all our aim has been to hide the truth, to screen him, and keep up the tale that we were afraid of the wild man.  How it has been done I know not:  but I do know that it has nearly killed me.  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.  Her eyes fell; the crimson of shame flushed into her cheeks; and he felt sorry to have asked it.

“Spare me, my lord, for I cannot tell you.  Perhaps Jabez will:  or Mr. Hillary; he knows.  It doesn’t much matter, now death’s so near; but I think it would kill me to have to tell it.”