It was Mrs.
Hardy who stood upon the threshold.
'May I come in, my dear ?' she asked in a kindly tone.
Christina, standing with one hand pressed to her throat and her burning eyes fixed intently upon the face of the elder woman, nodded a slow affirmative.

Mrs.Hardy entered, closing the door behind her, and stood for a moment gazing pitifully at the distracted girl, for Chris had a wild hunted look, and weariness and anxiety had almost exhausted her.

She faced her visitor with terror, as if anticipating a blow.
'My poor girl,' Mrs.Hardy said gently; 'I suppose you wonder why I have come ?' Again Chris moved her head in vague acquiescence.
'I have heard how heavily this blow has fallen upon you, and my heart bled with pity.

I felt I might be able to comfort you.
Chris put her back with a weak fluttering hand.
'My dear, I am an old woman; I have seen much trouble and have borne some, and I know that hearts break most often in loneliness.' 'You know the truth ?' asked the girl, through dry lips.
'I know Richard Haddon's story.' 'And you have not come to--to--' 'I have come to offer you all a woman's sympathy, my girl; to try to help you to be strong.' Mrs.Hardy took the weary girl in her arms and kissed her pale cheek.
'You are good! You are very good!' murmured Chris brokenly, clinging to her.

But she suddenly thrust herself back from the sheltering arms and uttered a cry of despair.
The door communicating with the next room had been opened and a grim figure crept into the kitchen, the figure of Ephraim Shine.