How did Mrs. Holbrook leave this place? and why do you
suspect that any harm has befallen her?"
"There is every reason to think so, sir. Is it like her to leave us
without a word of notice, knowing, as she must have known, the
unhappiness she would cause to me, who love her so well, by such a step?
She knew how I loved her. I think she had scarcely a secret from me."
"If you will only tell me the manner of her departure," Gilbert said
rather impatiently.
"Yes, yes, sir; I am coming to that directly. She seemed happier after
she came back from London, poor dear; and she told me that her
grandfather had left her money, and that she was likely to become quite a
rich woman. The thought of this gave her so much pleasure--not for her
own sake, but for her husband's, whose cares and difficulties would all
come to an end now, she told me. She had been back only a few days, when
I left home for a day and a night, to see my aunt--an old woman and a
constant invalid, who lives at Malsham. I had put off going to her for a
long time, for I didn't care about leaving Mrs. Holbrook; but I had to go
at last, my aunt thinking it hard that I couldn't spare time to spend a
day with her, and tidy up her house a bit, and see to the girl that waits
upon her, poor helpless thing. So I started off before noon one day,
after telling Mrs.
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