'"
These words were rather startling to the mind of Jane Payland. What was
she to do? Her own idea was, that the letter was the concoction of some
practised impostor, and that it would be an act of folly to take it to
her mistress. But what if the letter should be really of importance?
What if there should be some meaning in the boy's words? Was it not her
duty to convey the letter to Lady Eversleigh?
"Stay here till I return," she said, pointing to a bench in the lobby.
The boy seated himself on the extremest edge of the bench, with his hat
on his knees, and Jane Payland left him.
She went straight to the suite of apartments occupied by Lady
Eversleigh.
Honoria did not raise her eyes when Jane Payland entered the room.
There was a gloomy abstraction in her face, and melancholy engrossed
her thoughts.
"I beg pardon for disturbing you, my lady," said Jane; "but a lad from
the village has brought a letter, given him by a tramp; and, according
to his account, the man talked in such a very strange manner that I
thought I really ought to tell you, my lady; and--"
To the surprise of Jane Payland, Lady Eversleigh started suddenly from
her seat, and advanced towards her, awakened into sudden life and
energy as by a spell.
"Give me the letter," she cried, abruptly.
She took the soiled and crumpled envelope from her servant's hand with
a hasty gesture.
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