she seemed to recognize Woofinden--then Edgar-then to confuse the two-then to know neither. "I must-must speak to her. Betty! Betty! Don't you know me ?" "Ay; know ye, bairn ?" she said in a low, indistinct voice. "Ay, that I du. I nursed ye, joy! Didn't I? He's t' nicest lad iver came to Afrel, he is." "She is wandering," said the village surgeon. "I fear you will not get anything from her very clearly. Is it important? I think she is dying-will be dead before morning." "Oh! I must speak to her. It is my only hope. Betty! Betty! Don't you know Edgar Huntingdon? Betty! Betty! "Ay, honey! t' nicest lad. We niver had a differ five-and-forty year come foreend o' Christmas. Is Jessie in t' stable. It's a cold night; isn't it, joy?" "Yes, Betty; very cold. But don't you remember a wedding last year in the old church, at which you were witness? The day I brought a young lady to see you." "Ay, ay, bairn! Married to my poor Nestfield-seven-and-fifty year come "No, Betty! not that. I mean a young girl who cried-who was married to a stranger, and you were a witness. Don't you remember?" "Ay, honey! I do that. A bonnie lass, wi' blue eyes, that war kind to Jessie. Ye brought her. I remember, honey! Ay, it war sad. Ye loved her like, and the father, ay, Lord-Lord-nay, I can't remember t' name. Ay, bairn! I remember now-now remem-ay-my poor Nest Her utterance was troubled; her lips still moved. Edgar bent down, soothingly repeating his questions. He put his ear closer, and listened. There came no answer: he caught no breath. He turned his eyes towards her. She was dead! The He covered his face, but to shut out far more than that simple death-scene. good old woman had died peacefully enough, but she had taken away with her an irreclaimable secret. Woofinden took his companion's arm, and led him out. As they came into the open air, Edgar said, in a fearful tone "It is all over; I cannot prove her innocence, or that rascal's guilt." And in the darkness immediately behind him, a fist was clenched, and lips muttered silently "No, it is not all over! You cannot prove that rascal's guilt; but I will prove something before long. Come, Joe! it's all all right, now. Now that old hag is dead, you and I are the only two who know anything about the marriage. Only hold your tongue, and there'll always be a hundred a year for you. He mustn't see me. He has gone into the inn. Let us run over to your place, and stay there till they're off.” And the only living being, who could have proved the seducer's guilt, took the seducer's gold! CHAPTER XVI. "Omnes eodem cogimur: omnium "The lamentable change is from the best : The worst returns to laughter."-Henry VIII. ỌN discovering, by means of Joe's inquiries, that Edgar intended to remain at Afrel, Bingham at once set off, cautiously, back again to London. When the morning broke, Edgar, together with Woofinden, sought the clergyman. The worthy pastor remembered Ada and her visit. He had instituted, and more than once renewed, every possible search which might clear up the |