, 1884-12-24
DARK DAYS.
rConnnuefl
CHAPTER V.



WHITE TOMB.
From the moment when the true state OF
Philippa's mind flashed upon me, to the mo-
ment when l left her sleeping that heavy
sleep, / had little time TO think OF ANYTHING
else than the best means OF saving her life.
and. IL possible, her reason True, through
out the whole OF my operations TO effect this
end, a dim sort OF horror pervaded me-a
recollection of the CHASTITY object which lay
on the roadside, some three miles from US:
but 1t was not until ! turned from my pa
tents door that the terrible situation in
which she was placed presented itself to me
in all its dread entirety. Half broken
hearted, l threw myself YEARLY into my
chair, and covered my face with my hands.
What was TO DO donsf What was 70 be
donei Tomorrow morning the body would
be found. ! felt certain that when inquiry
was made suspicion would at once point to
ward Philippe. Mrs Wilson knew Of her
starting from Tome In the evening. alone
and on foot. She knew, moreover, that Sir
Msrvyn Ferrand WINS her husband; that he
had III used her. She would most certainly
know to whom Phiiippa had fed. 1t did
not follow that because l was ignorant as to
who were my neighbors they knew nothing
about me At any rate, William, my man,
would know the truth. So far rs l could
see, tomorrow, or by tho latest, the nsxt
day Philippe would DO arrested for the
crime. Most probably / should also be in
cluded In the arrest For that Iseemed 70
care nothing; except that it might hinder
me from helping my poor girl
Any hope OF removing Philippa-there,
put II in plain words-any hope OF flight,
tor days. even weeks, WINS vain. Let every
thing go as well rs can be in such cases, the
girl must DO kept In soclusion and quiet for
at least a fortnight or three weeks. 1groaned
as l thought Of what would happen II Phil
ippa was arrested and carried before tho
magistrates, accused of the awful crime.
From that moment until tho day of her
death she would DO insane.
Yet what help was there for III The mo-
ment tho deed Is known-ths moment Mrs.
Wilson learns that Sir Mervyn Ferrand has
been found shot through the hoart, she will
lot IL bo known that Lady Ferrand Is at
hand; and Lady Ferrand, who has been
passing under the name Of Mrs. Farmer, will
be sought and found And then-and thenl
Even II she did not die at onee-oven II
Eho rocovered-oh, the shame OF the trial.
No Jury could or would convict her; but for
Philippa, my queen, 10 stand in the dock,
TO plead for hor life. To know that,
whether convicted or acquitted, the deed
was done by her. To know that all Eng
land Is talkingo OF her wrongs and her vengc-
ance. Horribiei Horriblei II shall never
be. Rather will l give her a dranght Of
opium heavy enough TO close her eyes for
ever. There will DO plenty more OF the
drug left for mel
Fool that I wasl Why did l do things
by halvesl Why, for her sake, did l
not hide the dead man whore none would
find himl Why did mot rife his pockets,
so that suspicion should have pointed to a
vulgar murderer-some ono who had killed
him for mere plunderi Why did j not. at
least, destroy any letters or papers which
were about himi Identification might then
have been rendered difficult. and perhaps
been delayed for weeks. In that time l
might have saved hor.
Why do ! not do this nowi ! started TO
my feet; then sank back into my chair.
No; not even for Phlllipa's sake could ! 90
go, again to that spot II l did 80, ! should
return as mad as she Is now.
Not boing able to bring myself 10 adopt
the gre wsoms alternative, / could do moth
ing save wait -events-nothing, Mt least, to
avert the consequences of her delirious act.
But for her something must be done. How
could she, In her frenzied state, be left here
her only companions two mont Nurses
must at once DO procured. l summoned
William and told him he must go to London
by tho first train In the morning.
William would have received my instruc-
tions 10 go to the Antipodes with impertur-
liability. He merely expressed q doubt as
to whether any one would DO able 10 get to
London tomorrow on account OF the snow.
| walked 10 the window and looked out.
The night was still one mad whirl OF snow
flakes Tho window panes were half covered
by such as managed to find n resting place
there. As ! wdtched what ! could SEQ Of
the wild white dance, | found myself think
ing that by now that dead man on tho road
must be covered an inch-must have lost
shape and outline. 1 shivered as | turned
away.
"They are SURE 10 keep tho line to town
open. - l said. "If you can got to Roding,
you can get to London
''Oh, l can get to Roding right e~noughr'
said William.
Then I told him what he was TO do. He was
to take a letter to ono Of the Nursing Institu-
tions, and bring back two nurses with him
No matter what the weather was when thoy
reached Roding, they wero to come to my
houss at once, evenifthey had 10 hire twenty
horses to drag them there. He was also to
get me a few drugs that l might want
William said no more He nodded, to
show that he understood me; and I knew IL
1t were possible to do my bidding 1t would
be done.
OF his own accord he then brought me
food. I ate, for l knew that l should want
all my strength to support the anxiety Of the
neTt day or two.