Dolores did not seem to want to talk. In fact, she was clinging to the
reading, because she could not bear to speak or think of the state of
affairs, and the story seemed, as it were, to drown her misery. She
knew that her aunt and cousins were far less severe with her than she
expected, but that could only be because she was ill. Had not Uncle
Reginald turned against her, and Constance? It would all come upon her
as soon as she came out of her room, and she was rather sorry to
believe that she should be up and. about to-morrow morning.
Mysie read on till the short, winter day showed the first symptoms of
closing in. Then Lady Merrifield came up. 'You here, little nurse?'
she said. 'Run out now and meet the others. I'll stay with Dolly.'
Mysie knew by the kiss that her mother was pleased with her; but
Dolores dreaded the talk with her aunt, and made herself sleepy.
CHAPTER XVI
THE INCONSTANCY OF CONSTANCE.
The two gentlemen who had gone to Darminster brought home tidings that
the police who had been put on the track of Flinders had telegraphed
that it was thought that a person answering to his description had
embarked at Liverpool in an American-bound steamer.
This idea, though very uncertain, was a relief, at least to all except
the boys, who thought it a great shame that such a rascal should
escape, and wanted to know whether the Americans could not be made to
give him up. They did not at all understand their elders being glad,
for the sake of Maurice Mohun and his dead wife, that the man should
not be publicly convicted, and above all that Dolores should not have
to bear testimony against him in court, and describe her own very
doubtful proceedings.
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