th. I
think, Bertha, it will only be right to ask him to come to tea some day
before long."

Bertha reflected, a half-smile about her lips.

"Certainly," she said, "if you would like to."

"I really should. He was so very kind to me. And perhaps--what do you
think?--ought we to invite him in his proper name?"

"No, I think not," answered Bertha, after a moment's reflection. "We
are not supposed to know anything about that."

"To be sure not.--Oh, that dreadful creature. I see her eyes, glaring
at me, like a tiger's. Fifty times at least did she chase me round this
table. I thought I should have dropped with exhaustion; and if I had,
one blow of that poker would have finished me. Never speak to me of
servants, Bertha. Engage any one you like, but do, do be careful to
make inquiries about her. I shall never wish even to know her name; I
shall never look at her face; I shall never speak a word to her. I
leave all the responsibility to you, dear. And now, help me upstairs.
I'm sure 'I could never get up alone. I tremble in every limb--"

CHAPTER 43

Warburton's mother was dead. The first effect upon him of the certainty
that she could not recover from the unconsciousness in which he found
her when summoned by Jane's telegram, was that of an acute remorse; it
pierced him to the heart that she should have abandoned the home of her
life-time, for the strangeness and discomfort of the new abode, and
here have fallen, stricken by death--the cause of it, he himself, he so
unworthy of the least sacrifice. He had loved her; but what assurance
had he been wont to give her of his love? Through many and many a year
it was much if he wrote at long intervals a hurried letter. How seldom
had he cared to go down to St. Neots, and, when there, how soon had he
felt impatient of the little restraints imposed upon him by his
mother's ways and prejudices. Yet not a moment had she hesitated, ill
and aged, when, at so great a cost to herself, it seemed possible to
make life a little easier for him. This reproach was the keenest pain
with which nature had yet visited him.

Something of the same was felt by his sister, partly on her own, partly
on his account, but as soon as Jane became aware of his self torment,
her affection and her good sense soon brought succour to them both. She
spoke of the life their mother had led since coming into Suffolk,
related a hundred instances to prove how full of interest and
contentment it had b