"You must go home," he said, hoarsely. "It's over."
She started up.
"Have they found"----
"Yes.--Go home at once."
He turned away, and she hurried from the spot with bowed head.
CHAPTER XXVI
"Oh, depend upon it," said Mrs. Tenterden, in her heavy,
consequential way, "there's more behind than _we_ shall ever know!
'Unsound mind,' indeed She was no more of unsound mind than _I_ am!"
It was after church, and Mrs. Mumbray, alone this morning, had
offered the heavy lady a place in her brougham. The whole
congregation had but one topic as they streamed into the
unconsecrated daylight. Never was such eagerness for the strains of
the voluntary which allowed them to start up from attitudes of
profound meditation, and look round for their acquaintances.
Yesterday's paper--the _Polterham Examiner_ unfortunately--
reported the inquest, and people had to make the most of those
meagre paragraphs--until the _Mercury_ came out, when fuller and
less considerate details might be hoped for. The whispering, the
nodding, the screwing up of lips, the portentous frowning and the
shaking of heads--no such excitement was on record!
"To me," remarked Mrs. Mumbray, with an air of great responsibility,
"the mystery is too plain. I don't hint at _the worst_--it would
be uncharitable--but the poor creature had undoubtedly made some
discovery in that woman's house which drove her to despair.
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