More convincing than the most perfect masculine deduction, this single expression of their common nature sent a thrill of sympathy and understanding through each.  They cried for a few moments on each other’s shoulders.  “To think,” said Mrs. Scott, “what that poor boy must have suffered to have been obliged to do—­that to—­to—­Bilson—­isn’t that the creature’s name?  I suppose we ought to send over there and inquire after him, with some chicken and jelly, Kate.  It’s only common humanity, and we must be just, my dear; for even if he shot Mr. Lee and provoked the poor boy to shoot him, he may have thought it his duty.  And then, it will avert suspicions.”

“To think,” murmured Mrs. Hale, “what they must have gone through while they were here—­momentarily expecting John to come, and yet keeping up such a light heart.”

“I believe, if they had stayed any longer, they would have told us everything,” said Mrs. Scott.

Both the younger women were silent.  Kate was thinking of Falkner’s significant speech as they neared the house on their last walk; Josephine was recalling the remorseful picture drawn by Lee, which she knew was his own portrait.  Suddenly she started.

“But John will be here soon; what are we to tell him?  And then that package and that letter.”

“Don’t be in a hurry to tell him anything at present, my child,” said Mrs. Scott gently.  “It is unfortunate this Mr. Thompson called here, but we are not obliged to understand what he says now about John’s message, or to connect our visitors with his story.  I’m sure, Kate, I should have treated them exactly as we did if they had come without any message from John; so I do not know why we should lay any stress on that, or even speak of it.  The simple fact is that we have opened our house to two strangers in distress.  Your husband,” continued Mr. Hale’s mother-in-law, “does not require to know more.  As to the letter and package, we will keep that for further consideration.  It cannot be of much importance, or they would have spoken of it before; it is probably some trifling present as a return for your hospitality.  I should use no indecorous haste in having it opened.”

The two women kissed Mrs. Scott with a feeling of relief, and fell back into the monotony of their household duties.  It is to be feared, however, that the absence of their outlawed guests was nearly as dangerous as their presence in the opportunity it afforded for uninterrupted and imaginative reflection.  Both Kate and Josephine were at first shocked and wounded by the discovery of the real character of the two men with whom they had associated so familiarly, but it was no disparagement to their sense of propriety to say that the shock did not last long, and was accompanied with the fascination of danger.  This was succeeded by a consciousness of the delicate flattery implied in their indirect influence over the men who had undoubtedly risked their lives for the sake of remaining with