And yet she believed,--she could not but believe,--that her
grandson was on his deathbed in the room, above!
"O Reginald, what are we to?" said Lady Ushant.
"Is she like that to you?"
"She told me last night that I was a stranger, and that I ought to
leave the house."
"And what did you say?"
"I told her I should stay while he wished me to stay. But it is all
so terrible, that I think I had better go."
"I would not stir a step--on her account."
"But why should she be so bitter? I have done nothing to offend
her. It is more than half of even my long lifetime since I saw her.
She is nothing; but I have to think of his comfort. I suppose she
is good to him; and though he may bid me stay such scenes as this
in the house must be a trouble to him." Nevertheless Reginald was
strong in opinion that Lady Ushant ought not to allow herself to be
driven away, and declared his own purpose of coming daily as had of
late been his wont.
Soon after this Reginald was summoned to go upstairs and he again
met the angry woman in the passage, passing her of course without a
word. And then Mary came to see her friend, and she also
encountered Mrs. Morton, who was determined that no one should come
into that house without her knowledge. "Who is that young woman?"
said Mrs. Morton to the old housekeeper.
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