Jane Barker and her
lover, the former watching Sir Murray as narrowly as ever he watched his
lady. There was a feeling of uneasiness in Jane's heart that grew
stronger every day, a feeling not based upon any confidences of Lady
Gernon's--for, though invariably kind and gentle, Marion was not one to
make a friend and counsellor of her servant--but upon Jane's own
observation. The scraps she gathered she pieced together, and, when
alone, tried to form some definite course of action--a trial resulting
in a rigid determination which she followed out.

What took place in private was never known, but the pallor upon Lady
Gernon's cheeks grew daily of a more sickly hue. A physician was sent
for from the county town with great ostentation by Sir Murray, and
shortly after, another from London, resulting in prescriptions and
medicine, which her ladyship took daily, such medicine being always
administered by Jane, who made a point, for some reason or another, of
leaving the bottles always upon the table in her ladyship's
dressing-room; and this went on for quite a couple of months, the
sickness increasing, though not sufficiently to confine Lady Gernon to
her room. The walks, though, were pretty well given up, and it was only
at very rare intervals that Lady Gernon strayed beyond the boundaries of
the park.

The servants said that no one could be more attentive than Sir Murray
now was, and that it was quite pleasant to see the alteration. But Jane
said nothing, she merely tightened her lips, making no confidant; for
once--twice, four different times--she had encountered Sir Murray coming
from her mistress's dressing-room; and once, after such a visit, when
she went to give Lady Gernon her daily medicine, the poor girl fainted
away upon learning that her duty had been forestalled by Sir Murray
himself.

Whatever might have been Jane Barkers suspicions, she felt that this
could not go on for ever; and worn out, and sick at heart, she one day
put on her bonnet, ordered McCray to act as her escort, and made her way
to Merland Hall.

Mrs Norton welcomed her heartily, but almost in dread, not knowing what
interpretation might be placed upon the visit, should it come to Sir
Murray's ears. But, to her great astonishment, Jane's first act was to
close the window, and then, crossing the room, she turned the key in the
lock; when, coming back close to the astonished occupant of the room,
she threw herself down upon her knees, sob