romised me he would! And then
for it to come to this. He'd never have said such cruel things about my
lady if it had not been for the drink; and though I'd forgive him almost
anything, I couldn't forgive him for speaking as he did. I do think he
likes me, and that it isn't all for the sake of the bit of money, which
he might have and welcome if it would do him any good. If he would only
leave off writing to me, and asking me to meet him when he knows I
daren't, and every letter breaking my heart, and at a time, too, when
I've got nowhere to go and sit down and cry. No; let him mend a bit,
and show me that he's left off the drink, and my poor dear lady get well
first, and I'll leave directly, as I told him I would, and work and
slave for him all my life, just for the sake of a few kind words; for I
know I'm only a poor ignorant woman; but I can love him very--very much,
and--"

Jane stopped short, listening attentively, for at that moment there was
a faint rustling sound beneath the window, and then, after a few
minutes' interval, another and another; a soft rustling sound as of
something forcing its way gently amongst the bushes and low shrubs, for
at times a step was audible amongst the dead leaves, and once there came
a loud crack, as if a foot had been set upon a dry twig which had
snapped sharply.

Then there was utter silence again, and the girl sat listening with pale
face, lips apart, and her breath drawn with difficulty, as her heart
beat with a heavy throb, throb, throb, at the unwonted sound. It could
not be one of the dogs, for they were all chained up; and if it had been
a strange step she felt that they would have barked, and given some
alarm. The deer never came near the house, and it was extremely
doubtful whether any of the cattle in the great park could have strayed
into the private grounds through some gate having been left open. Her
heart told her what the noise was, and accelerated its beats with
excitement, so that when, after a renewal of the soft rustling, she
heard a sound as of hard breathing, and then a husky voice whispering
her name, she was in no wise surprised.

"Tst--tst, Jane!" seemed to come out of the black darkness below--a
darkness that she in vain tried to penetrate.

"Oh, why did you come--why did you come?" sobbed Jane. "Somebody will
be sure to hear you, and then you'll be in worse trouble than ever,
besides getting me turned out of my place. Oh, John!--oh, John! how