"In everything?" Yes, in everything. She shuddered as she thought of Jeremiah Pamflett. But even that sacrifice she would make if all else failed.
The effort must be made at once this very night and it must be made without first consulting Aunt Leth. Full well did she know that the dear woman would divine the sacrifice she was prepared to make, and would endeavour to prevent it.
She put on her hat and mantle, and quietly left the house. A few doors down the street she met 'Melia Jane.
"Why, Miss Phœbe!" cried that model servant-of-all-work. "Where are you going all alone?"
"If my aunt or my cousin asks for me," said Phœbe, hurriedly, "tell them I have gone to Parksides to see my father."
Before 'Melia Jane could reply, Phœbe had turned the corner of the street, and was hastening to the railway station.
CHAPTER VII BETTER THAN ANY DAY-DREAM
"This is the number," said one.
"Yes," replied the other; "she lives here."
A rat-tat with the knocker brought 'Melia Jane to the street door.
"Is Mr. Lethbridge at home?" asked one of the men.
"No, sir," replied 'Melia Jane; "he's at his bank."
"Is Mrs. Lethbridge in?"
"Yes, sir."
"Her niece, Miss Phœbe Farebrother, is stopping here, is she not?"
"Yes, sir."
"Is she in?"
"Yes, sir; but you can't see her, if that's what you've come for."
"Why can't we see her?"
"'Cause she's too ill to be seen by anybody but us. Poor thing! she's no sooner out of one fit than she's into another."
"Ah!" And the speaker glanced at his companion. "I'm sorry to hear it very, very sorry." His voice was soothing and sympathizing, and 'Melia Jane, who had not been too favourably impressed by the strangers, became instantly mollified. "How long has she been ill?"
"Oh, come!" exclaimed 'Melia Jane, relapsing into her original view. "You don't belong to the family, as I'm aware of."
"No, we do not, my good girl," observed the man; "but that would not prevent me from feeling pity for any young lady who is ill, I hope." He smiled so kindly upon 'Melia Jane that she did not know what to think of him. "Perhaps it's what occurred last night that has upset her?"
"I don't know what occurred last night," said 'Melia Jane, sharply; "do you?"
"Why, my girl, a number of things occur every night. Which particular one do you refer to?"
"I once knowed a girl," said 'Melia Jane, with an air of scornful defiance, "who knowed another girl who had a friend who lived in Pump Court."
"Well?" said the stranger, seemingly much amused.
"In Pump Court he lived," said 'Melia Jane. "And he lived by it as well as in it. Lor' bless you! The artful way in which
he'd pump people, so's to get out of 'em every blessed thing he wanted to know it was a sight, that's what it was!"
The man laughed heartily. "So you think we've come to pump you, my good girl! Perhaps you're right and perhaps you're wrong. Now if I were to ask you whether Miss Phœbe Farebrother slept at home last night I mean here, in her aunt's house I suppose you would call that pumping?"
"I should and I shouldn't answer you."
"But why, my good girl? why? Is there any reason for secrecy in so simple a matter? However, I will not ask you, and in proof that I'm not quite the bad sort of fellow you take me for, I will just inquire whether this brooch belongs to Miss Farebrother."
He produced the brooch which Mrs. Pamflett had given to Phœbe on her birthday.
"Yes, it's hern," said 'Melia Jane, holding out her hand for it.
"Did she wear it yesterday?"
"Pumping ag'in!"
"My good girl, you're enough to put one out of patience. Isn't it an act of kindness to restore lost property? But one must be sure first that it gets back into the hands of the right owner. Can you remember whether Miss Farebrother wore this brooch yesterday?"
"No, I can't remember. And now I come to think of it, I 'ain't seen her wear it for a long time past."
"But she wore this yesterday." He produced a veil.
"Yes," said 'Melia Jane, a little eagerly; "she had it on when she went away last night to "
"Why don't you finish, my good girl? When she went away last night to Parksides." He returned the brooch and the veil to his pocket. "I won't trouble you any more. Be kind enough to tell Mrs. Lethbridge that we wish to see her."
"What name shall I say?"
"Never mind the name; she will not know it. You can say, on particular business."
Leaving the men in the passage with the street door open, 'Melia Jane went up to Phœbe's bedroom, and gave the message to her mistress, who came down at once, and asked the stranger what his business was.
"It will be best for me to speak to you in private," said the man.
Aunt Leth led the visitors into the parlour, and the one who had spoken all through commenced the conversation.
"My name is Beeminster, and I am attached to the police force. I am engaged upon an inquiry of a serious nature, and it has, in the first place, led me to your house."
Aunt Leth's heart fainted within her. Knowing nothing whatever of business, or of the pains and penalties attending the dishonouring of an acceptance for three hundred pounds, she feared that the terrible anxieties through which she had passed with respect to her husband's liability were about to be renewed. She had believed that this special difficulty had been happily tided over for a time, and her reason for this belief needs in this place a word of explanation.