human
Where are the ladies? said the minister.
gpt
I have just heard that my sister was brought here last night. Tell her I am here. Take me to her. Don't be alarmed. You know what I mean? The two ladies--young ladies who came here with Colonel Mildmay last night--where are they? Good heavens! do you not understand what I mean?
human
The young ladies, sir? faltered the landlady, gasping and looking at the man who still kept by Vincent's side.
gpt
Oh, Lord bless us! The young ladies----
human
Make haste and let them know I am here, said Vincent, gradually growing more and more anxious.
gpt
I will undertake to produce them if they are wanted as witnesses. Where are they?--where is my sister? I tell you she is my sister. I have come for her. Tell Miss Vincent. Surely I am speaking plain English, said the young man, with a flush of sudden dread.
human
The elder one, Miss Vincent--you understand me? Let her know that I am here.
gpt
His sister! Oh, Lord bless us; and he don't know no more than the unborn, cried the woman of the house.
human
Oh, Lord! p'liceman, can't you tell the poor gentleman? His sister! oh, that's worse than ever, that is. Some poor young thing as has been beguiled and led astray. Lord bless us! don't look at me o' that way. I ain't to blame. Oh, gracious me, that I should have to tell the gentleman, and you standing there! Oh, sir, it's her as has done it. She's gone away from here afore break of day. I don't blame her; oh, I don't blame her; don't look o' that dreadful way at me. He's drove her to it with bad usage. She'll have to suffer for it; but I don't blame her. I don't blame her if it was my last word in life.
gpt
Blame her? whom? for what?
human
Oh, Lord! don't look o' that dreadful way at me; she's gone off from here as soon as she done it, cried the woman.
gpt
She had that much sense left, poor soul. He's drove her mad; he's drove her to it. My man says it can't be brought in no worse than manslaughter----
human
You don't understand me, Vincent broke in;
gpt
Lord bless us! the poor young gentleman's gone out of his senses, cried the landlady.
human
Let him go through all the house if that's what he wants. There ain't nothing to conceal in my house. I'll take you to the room as they were in--she and the other one. This way, sir. They hadn't nothing with them but two little bags, so there wasn't much to leave; but such as it is, being her night-things, is there. She wasn't thinking of bags, nor any of her little comforts, when she went away. Here, sir; walk in here.
gpt
Do you mean to tell me that it is she who has gone away, said Vincent, with a look of incredulous wonder and appeal--
human
Oh, sir, don't say anything as may come against her, cried the landlady.
gpt
It's nobody but her, poor soul, poor soul. If it was possible to think as it could be another, I would--but there was nobody else to do it. As soon as we heard the shot and the groan the master got up. He met her on the stair, sir, if you'll believe me, like a woman as was walking in her sleep. He was that struck he daren't say a word to her. He let her pass by him and go out at the door--and when he went into the gentleman's room and found him there a-dying, she was gone clean off, and couldn't be heard of. Folks say as my husband should have stopped her, but it wasn't none of his business. Oh, sir, don't say nothing as'll put them on her track! There's one man gone off after her already--oh, it's dreadful!--if you'll be advised by me, you'll slip out the back way, and don't come across that policeman again. If she did kill him, cried the weeping landlady,
human
Hush--hush, said Vincent,
gpt
said the minister, getting the words out with difficulty.
human
Tell me how it all happened--when they came here, what passed; for instance---- He paused, and his eye caught another evidence of the reality of his horrible position. It was the blue veil which he had followed and described, and looked for through all these weary hours. He took it up in his hand, crushing it together with an almost ungovernable impulse of rage, from where it had been thrown down on the shabby carpet.
gpt
For instance, said Susan's brother, restraining himself,
human
I took in the pastor for a lodger, because he was sure to be steady and respectable, and this is what he has brought to me! cried the hysterical woman.
gpt
What is the meaning of all this? cried Vincent, looking round him with restrained fury, but he did not wait for an answer. He went up to his rooms to know the worst. As he rushed breathless up-stairs, loud outcries of delirium reached him. In his horror and anguish he could not recognise the voice--was it his mother who had given way under the terrible burden? He dashed open the door of the sitting-room in which he had spent so many quiet hours--neither mother nor sister were there; instead of them a rough-featured man, in a blue travelling-coat, and Tozer, flushed and argumentative, standing by the table. Vincent had not time to ask what the controversy was that was going on between the two. The butterman grasped his hand with an almost violent pressure, and took the stranger's arm.
human
Beg your pardon for being in your room, Mr. Vincent, but me and this gentleman has a little business. I'll be back presently and explain, said the good deacon, with a compassionate look at the young man, whose weary eyes sought with instinctive suspicion that unknown face.
gpt
I'm your friend, Mr. Vincent-- I always was; I'm not one as will desert a friend in trouble,