"
Miss Lavinia turned pale. "If he and Richard meet--" she began. "Tell
him!" she added, hurriedly--"tell him before it is too late!"
Natalie wrote a few lines (addressed to Launce in his assumed name at
his lodgings in the village) inclosing Lady Winwood's telegram, and
entreating him to do nothing rash. When the servant had disappeared with
the letter, there was one hope in her mind and in her aunt's mind, which
each was ashamed to acknowledge to the other--the hope that Launce would
face the very danger that they dreaded for him, and come to the house.
They had not been long alone again, when Sir Joseph drowsily opened his
eyes and asked what they were doing in his room. They told him gently
that he was ill. He put his hand up to his head, and said they were
right, and so dropped off again into slumber. Worn out by the emotions
through which they had passed, the two women silently waited for the
march of events. The same stupor of resignation possessed them both.
They had secured the door and the window. They had prayed together.
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