"Mak' a black un," said the testatrix. "Let's ha' it plain."
Then, turning to Rachel:
"Does ta want to know wheer th' money come fro'? Fro' Will Ffrench—fro' him. He wur one o' th' gentry when aw wur said an' done—an' I wur a han'some lass."
When it was done they all stood and looked at each other. Granny Dixon lay back upon her pillows, drawing sharp breaths. She was looking only at Rachel Ffrench. She seemed to have forgotten all the rest of them, and what she had been doing. All that was left of the Voice was a loud, halting whisper.
"Wheer's th' flower? " she said. "I conna smell it."
It was in her hand.
Rachel Ffrench drew back.
"Let me go," she said to Mrs. Briarley. "I cannot stay here."
"He used to wear 'em i' his button-hole," she heard, "—seventy year ago—an' she's th' very moral on him." And scarcely knowing how, she made her way past the women, and out of the house and into the fresh air and sunshine.
"Drive home," she said to the coachman, "as quickly as possible."
She leaned back in a corner of the carriage shuddering. Suddenly she burst into wild tears.
But there were no traces of her excitement when she reached home. She descended from the carriage looking quite herself, and after dismissing it went up to her own room.
About half an hour later she came down and went into the library. Her father was not there, and on inquiring
