362
WYLDER'S HAJVU.
'Oh, dear Miss Lake — Rachel, I mean — Rachel,
dear, I hope it won't be all off. Oh, you don't know —
Heaven only knows — the danger we are in."
Dolly spoke quite wildly, with her hands on Rachel's
shoulders. It was the first time she had broken down,
the first time, at least, the Vicar had seen her anything
but cheery, and his head sank, and it seemed as if his
last light had gone out, and he was quite benighted.
"Now, don't blame me," said Miss Lake, "and don't
be frightened till you have heard me. Let us sit down
here — we shan't be interrupted — and just answer your
wretched friend, Rachel, two or three questions, and hear
what she has to say."
So, in reply to her questions, the Vicar told her frank-
ly how he stood; and Rachel said— " Well, you must
not think of selling your reversion. Oh! think of your
little boy — think of Dolly — if you were taken away
from her."
f! But," said Dolly, "Mr. Larkin heard from Captain
Lake that Mark is privately married, and actually has,
he says. a large family; and he, you know, has letters
from him, and Mr. Larkin thinks, knows more than any-
one else about him; and if that were so, none of us
would ever inherit the property. So " —
"Do they say that Mark is married? Nothing can
be more false. He neither is nor ever will be married.
If my brother dared say that in my presence, I would
make him confess, before you, that he knows it cannot be.
'Oh! my poor little Fairy — my poor Dolly — my poor
good friend, William! What shall I say? I am in
great distraction of mind. Listen to me, good and kind
as you are. You are never to call me your friend, mind
that. I am a most unhappy creature, forced by circum-
stances to be your enemy, for a time — not always. You