’She gets up each day, but I’m often afraid that—­She has had fainting fits—­’

Rhoda gazed at the speaker with pitiless scrutiny.

’What can have caused this?  Is it the result of her being falsely accused?’

‘Partly that.  But—­’

Suddenly Virginia rose, stepped to Rhoda’s side, and whispered a word or two.  Rhoda turned pale; her eyes glared fiercely.

‘And still you believe her innocent?’

’She has sworn to me that she is innocent.  She says that she has a proof of it which I shall see some day—­and her husband also.  A presentiment has fixed itself in her mind that she can’t live, and before the end she will tell everything.’

‘Her husband knows of this, of course—­of what you have told me?’

’No.  She has forbidden me to say anything—­and how could I, Miss Nunn?  She has made me promise solemnly that he shall not be told.  I haven’t even told Alice.  But she will know very soon.  At the end of September she leaves her place, and will come to London to be with us—­for a time at all events.  We do so hope that we shall succeed in persuading Monica to go to the house at Clevedon.  Mr. Widdowson is keeping it, and will move the furniture from Herne Hill at any moment.  Couldn’t you help us, dear Miss Nunn?  Monica would listen to you; I am sure she would.’

‘I’m afraid I can be of no use,’ Rhoda answered coldly.

‘She has been hoping to see you.’

‘She has said so?’

’Not in so many words—­but I am sure she wishes to see you.  She has asked about you several times, and when your note came she was very pleased.  It would be a great kindness to us—­’

‘Does she declare that she will never return to her husband?’

’Yes—­I am sorry to say she does.  But the poor child believes that she has only a short time to live.  Nothing will shake her presentiment.  “I shall die, and give no more trouble”—­that’s what she always says to me.  And a conviction of that kind is so likely to fulfil itself.  She never leaves the house, and of course that is very wrong; she ought to go out every day.  She won’t see a medical man.’

‘Has Mr. Widdowson given her any cause for disliking him?’ Rhoda inquired.

’He was dreadfully violent when he discovered—­I’m afraid it was natural—­he thought the worst of her, and he has always been so devoted to Monica.  She says he seemed on the point of killing her.  He is a man of very severe nature, I have always thought.  He never could bear that Monica should go anywhere alone.  They were very, very unhappy, I’m afraid—­so ill-matched in almost every respect.  Still, under the circumstances—­surely she ought to return to him?’

‘I can’t say.  I don’t know.’