"Girl! what is it to you whether Mr. Brudenell has a wife or not? What
are you to Mr. Herman Brudenell?"
"Nothing, madam; nothing for evermore," wailed Nora, without looking up
or changing her posture.
"Humph! I am glad to hear it, I am sure!" grunted Mrs. Brudenell.
"Nothing? you say; nothing?" questioned Lady Hurstmonceux.
"Nothing in this world, madam; nothing whatever! so be at ease." It was
another wail of the storm-swept heart-strings.
"I truly believe you; I ought to have believed without asking you; but
who, then, has been your betrayer, my poor girl?" inquired the young
matron in tones of deepest pity.
This question at length shook the statue; a storm passed through her;
she essayed to speak, but her voice failed.
"Tell me, poor one; and I will do what I can to right your wrongs. Who
is it?"
"Myself!" moaned Nora, closing her eyes as if to shut out all light and
life, while a spasm drew back the corners of her mouth and convulsed her
face.
"Enough of this, Berenice! You forget the girls!" said Mrs. Brudenell,
putting her hand to the bell and ringing again.
"I beg your pardon, madam; I did indeed forget the presence of the
innocent and happy in looking upon the erring and wretched," said Lady
Hurstmonceux.
"That will do," said the elder lady. "Here is Jovial at last! Why did
you not come when I first rang?" she demanded of the negro, who now
stood in the door.
"I 'clare, mist'ess, I never heerd it de fust time, madam."
"Keep your ears open in future, or it will be the worse for you! And now
what excuse can you offer for disobeying my express orders, and not only
admitting this creature to the house, but even bringing her to our
presence?" demanded the lady severely.
"I clare 'fore my 'vine Marster, madam, when Miss Nora come in de storm
to de kitchen-door, looking so wild and scared like, and asked to see de
young madam dere, I t'ought in my soul how she had some news of de young
marster to tell! an' dat was de why I denounced her into dis
drawin'-room."
"Do not make such a mistake again! if you do I will make you suffer
severely for it! And you, shameless girl! if you presume to set foot on
these premises but once again, I will have you sent to the work-house as
a troublesome vagrant."