Since the death of that son she has been a desolate,
desponding woman, always bewailing him. She was a farmer's wife,
very well educated--a governess originally, I believe.'
Knight's heart was moved to sympathy. His own fortunes seemed in
some strange way to be interwoven with those of this Jethway
family, through the influence of Elfride over himself and the
unfortunate son of that house. He made no reply, and they still
walked on.
'She begins to feel heavy,' said the stranger, breaking the
silence.
'Yes, she does,' said Knight; and after another pause added, 'I
think I have met you before, though where I cannot recollect. May
I ask who you are?'
'Oh yes. I am Lord Luxellian. Who are you?'
'I am a visitor at The Crags--Mr. Knight.'
'I have heard of you, Mr. Knight.'
'And I of you, Lord Luxellian. I am glad to meet you.'
'I may say the same. I am familiar with your name in print.'
'And I with yours. Is this the house?'
'Yes.'
The door was locked. Knight, reflecting a moment, searched the
pocket of the lifeless woman, and found therein a large key which,
on being applied to the door, opened it easily. The fire was out,
but the moonlight entered the quarried window, and made patterns
upon the floor. The rays enabled them to see that the room into
which they had entered was pretty well furnished, it being the
same room that Elfride had visited alone two or three evenings
earlier.
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