Her husband--Miss Hurst was told--had deserted her, leaving her
entirely without means, and now, but for Mrs. Sprowl's charity, she
would have been in the workhouse. This story sounded very strangely
to Ida. It might mean that Julian was dead. She wrote a few lines to
Waymark, at the old address, and had a speedy reply. Yes, Julian
Casti was dead, but the grave had not yet closed over him. Harriet
had been in receipt of money, and need have wanted for nothing; but
_now_ she must expect no more.
The result of it all was that, in the course of a week, Harriet was
informed by Miss Hurst that a place was open to her in a hospital
near London, where she could remain as long as her ailments rendered
it necessary; the expense would be provided for by a lady who had
been told of the case, and wished to give what aid she could. The
offer was rejected, and with insult. When next she visited Litany
Lane, Ida learnt that "pore Mrs. Casty," after a quarrel with her
friend Mrs. Sprowl, had fallen downstairs in a fit and broken her
neck.
Waymark lived on in the Isle of Wight, until a day when there came
to him a letter from Miss Bygrave. It told him that Maud's resolve
was immutable, and added that aunt and niece, having become members
of "the true Church," were about to join a sisterhood in a midland
town, where their lives would be devoted to work of charity.
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