eply, the rector shifted his ground, and took counsel next of
his experience as a friend.

"Is this person," he asked, "connected in any way with the painful
remembrances of your early life?"

"Yes; with the painful remembrance of the time when I was married," said
Mrs. Armadale. "She was associated, as a mere child, with a circumstance
which I must think of with shame and sorrow to my dying day."

Mr. Brock noticed the altered tone in which his old friend spoke, and
the unwillingness with which she gave her answer.

"Can you tell me more about her without referring to yourself?" he went
on. "I am sure I can protect you, if you will only help me a little. Her
name, for instance--you can tell me her name?"

Mrs. Armadale shook her head, "The name I knew her by," she said, "would
be of no use to you. She has been married since then; she told me so
herself."

"And without telling you her married name?"

"She refused to tell it."

"Do you know anything of her friends?"

"Only of her friends when she was a child. They called themselves her
uncle and aunt. They were low people, and they deserted her at the
school on my father's estate. We never heard any more of them."

"Did she remain under your father's care?"

"She remained under my care; that is to say, she traveled with us. We
were leaving England, just as that time, for Madeira. I had my father's
leave to take her with me, and to train the wretch to be my maid--"

At those words Mrs. Armadale stopped confusedly. Mr. Brock tried gently
to lead her on. It was useless; she started up in violent agitation, and
walked excitedly backward and forward in the room.

"Don't ask me any more!" she cried out, in loud, angry tones. "I parted
with her when she was a girl of twelve years old. I never saw her again,
I never heard of her again, from that time to this. I don't know how
she has discovered me, after all the years that have passed; I only know
that she _has_ discovered me. She will find her way to Allan next; she
will poison my son's mind against me. Help me to get away from her! help
me to take Allan away before she comes back!"

The rector asked no more questions; it would have been cruel to press
her further. The first necessity was to compose her by promising
compliance with all that she desired. The second was to induce her to
see another medical man. Mr. Brock contrived to reach his end harmlessly
in this latter case by reminding her that she wanted str