CHAPTER LI.
A HARD TASK.
The next morning, leaving the shop to Letty, Mary set out immediately after breakfast to go to Thornwick.

But the duty she had there to perform was so distasteful, that she felt her very limbs refuse the office required of them.

They trembled so under her that she could scarcely walk.

She sent, therefore, to the neighboring inn for a fly.
All the way, as she went, she was hoping she might be spared an encounter with Mrs.Wardour; but the old lady heard the fly, saw her get out, and, imagining she had brought Letty back in some fresh trouble, hastened to prevent either of them from entering the house.
The door stood open, and they met on the broad step.
"Good morning, Mrs.Wardour," said Mary, trying to speak without betraying emotion.
"Good morning, Miss Marston," returned Mrs.Wardour, grimly.
"Is Mr.Wardour at home ?" asked Mary.
"What is your business with _him_ ?" rejoined the mother.
"Yes; it is with him," returned Mary, as if she had mistaken her question, and there had been a point of exclamation after the _What_.
"About that hussy ?" "I do not know whom you call by the name," replied Mary, who would have been glad indeed to find a fellow-protector of Godfrey in his mother.
"You know well enough whom I mean.

Whom should it be, but Letty Lovel!" "My business has nothing to do with her," answered Mary.
"Whom has it to do with, then ?" "With Mr.Wardour." "What is it ?" "Only Mr.Wardour himself must hear it.