“They are killing auntie.  She looks like a ghost already,” said the child, again bursting into tears.

“Tell me, Judy, what can I do for her?”

“You must find out, Mr Walton.  If you loved her as much as I do, you would find out what to do.”

“But she will not let me do anything for her.”

“Yes, she will.  She says you promised to help her some day.”

“Did she send you, then?”

“No.  She did not send me.”

“Then how—­what—­what can I do!”

“Oh, you exact people!  You must have everything square and in print before you move.  If it had been me now, wouldn’t I have been off like a shot!  Do get your hat, Mr Walton.”

“Come, then, Judy.  I will go at once.—­Shall I see her?”

And every vein throbbed at the thought of rescuing her from her persecutors, though I had not yet the smallest idea how it was to be effected.

“We will talk about that as we go,” said Judy, authoritatively.

In a moment more we were in the open air.  It was a still night, with an odour of damp earth, and a hint of green buds in it.  A pale half-moon hung in the sky, now and then hidden by the clouds that swept across it, for there was wind in the heavens, though upon earth all was still.  I offered Judy my arm, but she took my hand, and we walked on without a word till we had got through the village and out upon the road.

“Now, Judy,” I said at last, “tell me what they are doing to your aunt?”

“I don’t know what they are doing.  But I am sure she will die.”

“Is she ill?”

“She is as white as a sheet, and will not leave her room.  Grannie must have frightened her dreadfully.  Everybody is frightened at her but me, and I begin to be frightened too.  And what will become of auntie then?”

“But what can her mother do to her?”

“I don’t know.  I think it is her determination to have her own way that makes auntie afraid she will get it somehow; and she says now she will rather die than marry Captain Everard.  Then there is no one allowed to wait on her but Sarah, and I know the very sight of her is enough to turn auntie sick almost.  What has become of Jane I don’t know.  I haven’t seen her all day, and the servants are whispering together more than usual.  Auntie can’t eat what Sarah brings her, I am sure; else I should almost fancy she was starving herself to death to keep clear of that Captain Everard.”

“Is he still at the Hall?”

“Yes.  But I don’t think it is altogether his fault.  Grannie won’t let him go.  I don’t believe he knows how determined auntie is not to marry him.  Only, to be sure, though grannie never lets her have more than five shillings in her pocket at a time, she will be worth something when she is married.”

“Nothing can make her worth more than she is, Judy,” I said, perhaps with some discontent in my tone.

“That’s as you and I think, Mr Walton; not as grannie and the captain think at all.  I daresay he would not care much more than grannie whether she was willing or not, so long as she married him.”