submission. "Your turn
now," she muttered to herself, as she turned to the looking-glass to
arrange her shawl. "My turn will come."

Julian advanced toward her, as if to offer her his arm, and checked
himself. Firmly persuaded as he was that her mind was deranged--readily
as he admitted that she claimed, in virtue of her affliction, every
indulgence that he could extend to her--there was something repellent
to him at that moment in the bare idea of touching her. The image of the
beautiful creature who was the object of her monstrous accusation--the
image of Mercy as she lay helpless for a moment in his arms--was vivid
in his mind while he opened the door that led into the hall, and drew
back to let Grace pass out before him. He left the servant to help her
into the cab. The man respectfully addressed him as he took his seat
opposite to Grace.

"I am ordered to say that your room is ready, sir, and that her ladyship
expects you to dinner."

Absorbed in the events which had followed his aunt's invitation, Julian
had forgotten his engagement to stay at Mablethorpe House. Could he
return, knowing his own heart as he now knew it? Could he honorably
remain, perhaps for weeks together, in Mercy's society, conscious as
he now was of the impression which she had produced on him? No. The
one honorable course that he could take was to find an excuse for
withdrawing from his engagement. "Beg her ladyship not to wait dinner
for me," he said. "I will write and make my apologies." The cab drove
off. The wondering servant waited on the doorstep, looking after it. "I
wouldn't stand in Mr. Julian's shoes for something," he thought, with
his mind running on the difficulties of the young clergyman's position.
"There she is along with him in the cab. What is he going to do with her
after that?"

Julian himself, if it had been put to him at the moment, could not have
answered the question.

*****

Lady Janet's anxiety was far from being relieved when Mercy had been
restored to her senses and conducted to her own room.

Mercy's mind remained in a condition of unreasoning alarm, which it was
impossible to remove. Over and over again she was told that the woman
who had terrified her had left the house, and would never be permitted
to enter it more; over and over again she was assured that the
stranger's frantic assertions were regarded by everybody about her as
unworthy of a moment's serious attention. She persisted in d