Opening a drawer, she took out
several paltry little ornaments, which she wished him to admire,
and, in showing them, stood very close by his side. All at once the
door of the room was pushed open, and a woman ran in. On seeing the
stranger present, she darted back with an exclamation of surprise.
"Oh, Miss Smales, I didn't know as you wasn't alone! I heard you
moving about, and come just to arst you to lend me--but never
mind, I'm so sorry; why didn't you lock the door?"
And she bustled out again, apparently in much confusion.
Harriet had dropped the thing she held in her hand, and stood
looking at her cousin as if dismayed.
"I never thought any one was in," she said nervously. "It's Miss
Mould, the lodger. She went out before I did, and I never heard her
come back. Whatever will she think!"
"But of course," he stammered, "you will explain everything to her.
She knows who I am, doesn't she?"
"I don't think so, and, even if she did--"
She stopped, and stood with eyes on the ground, doing her best to
display maiden confusion. Then she began to cry.
"But surely, surely there is no need to trouble yourself," exclaimed
Julian, almost distracted, beginning to be dimly conscious of all
manner of threatening possibilities.
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