cloak or bonnet."

"Good God!" cried Godfrey. "And you could leave her like that!"

"She is attended to," replied Mary, with dignity. "There are worse
evils to be warded than death, else I should not be here; there are
hard judgments and evil tongues.--Will you come and see her, Mr.
Wardour?"

"No," answered Godfrey, gruffly.

"Shall I send a note to Mrs. Wardour, then?"

"I will tell her myself."

"What would you have me do about her?"

"I have no concern in the matter, but I suppose you had better send for
a doctor. Talk to that fellow there," he added, pointing with his whip
toward the cottage, and again putting his foot in the stirrup. "Tell
him he has brought her to disgrace--"

"I don't believe it," interrupted Mary, her face flushing with
indignant shame. But Godfrey went on without heeding her:

"And get him to marry her off-hand, if you can--for, by God! he _shall_
marry her, or I will kill him."

He spoke looking round at her over his shoulder, a scowl on his face,
his foot in the stirrup, one hand twisted in the mane of his horse, and
the other with the whip stretched out as if threatening the universe.
Mary stood white but calm, and made no answer. He swung himself into
the saddle, and rode away. She turned to the gate.

From behind the shrubbery, Tom had heard all that passed between them,
and, meeting her as she entered, led the way to a side-walk, unseen
from the house.

"O Miss Marston! what is to be done?" he said. "This is a terrible
business! But I am so glad you have got her, poor girl! I heard all you
said to that brute, Wardour. Thank you, thank you a thousand times, for
taking her part. Indeed, you spoke but the truth for her. Let me tell
you all I know."

He had not much to tell, however, beyond what Mary knew already.

"She keeps calling out for you, Mr. Helmer," she said, when he had
ended.

"I will go with you. Come, come," he answered.

"You will leave a message for your mother?"

"Never mind my mother. She's good at finding out for herself."

"She ought to be told," said Mary; "but I can't stop to argue it with
you. Certainly your first duty is to Letty now. Oh, if people only
wouldn't hide things!"

"Come along," cried Tom, hurrying before her; "I will soon set
everything right."

"How shall we manage with the doctor?" said Mary, as they went. "We can
not do without him, for I am sure she is in danger."

"Oh, no!" said Tom. "She will be all right when she sees me