You good Morris,
_she_ saw us--she did. Wretch! Cruel, cunning, shameless wretch."

In the shadows that were round them, Alban could just see that she
was shaking her clinched fists in the air. He made another attempt to
control her. "Don't excite yourself! If she comes into the garden, she
might hear you."

The appeal to her fears had its effect.

"That's true," she said, in lowered tones. A sudden distrust of him
seized her the next moment. "Who told me I was excited?" she burst out.
"It's you who are excited. Deny it if you dare; I begin to suspect you,
Mr. Morris; I don't like your conduct. What has become of your pipe? I
saw you put your pipe in your coat pocket. You did it when you set me
down among the trees where _she_ could see me! You are in league
with her--she is coming to meet you here--you know she does not like
tobacco-smoke. Are you two going to put me in the madhouse?"

She started to her feet. It occurred to Alban that the speediest way of
pacifying her might be by means of the pipe. Mere words would exercise
no persuasive influence over that bewildered mind. Instant action, of
some kind, would be far more likely to have the right effect. He put his
pipe and his tobacco pouch into her hands, and so mastered her attention
before he spoke.

"Do you know how to fill a man's pipe for him?" he asked.

"Haven't I filled my husband's pipe hundreds of times?" she answered
sharply.

"Very well. Now do it for me."

She took her chair again instantly, and filled the pipe. He lighted it,
and seated himself on the grass, quietly smoking. "Do you think I'm in
league with her now?" he asked, purposely adopting the rough tone of a
man in her own rank of life.

She answered him as she might have answered her husband, in the days of
her unhappy marriage.

"Oh, don't gird at me, there's a good man! If I've been off my head for
a minute or two, please not to notice me. It's cool and quiet here,"
the poor woman said gratefully. "Bless God for the darkness; there's
something comforting in the darkness--along with a good man like you.
Give me a word of advice. You are my friend in need. What am I to do? I
daren't go back to the house!"

She was quiet enough now, to suggest the hope that she might be able
to give Alban some information "Were you with Miss de Sor," he asked,
"before you came out here? What did she do to frighten you?"

There was no answer; Mrs. Ellmother had abruptly risen once more.
"Hush!" sh