I Say No

by Wilkie Collins

  CHAPTER LXV. CECILIA IN A NEW CHARACTER.

  Reaching the cottage at night, Emily found the card of a visitor whohad called during the day. It bore the name of "Miss Wyvil," and had amessage written on it which strongly excited Emily's curiosity.

  "I have seen the telegram which tells your servant that you returnto-night. Expect me early to-morrow morning--with news that will deeplyinterest you."

  To what news did Cecilia allude? Emily questioned the woman who had beenleft in charge of the cottage, and found that she had next to nothing totell. Miss Wyvil had flushed up, and had looked excited, when she readthe telegraphic message--that was all. Emily's impatience was, as usual,not to be concealed. Expert Mrs. Ellmother treated the case in the rightway--first with supper, and then with an adjournment to bed. The clockstruck twelve, when she put out the young mistress's candle. "Ten hoursto pass before Cecilia comes here!" Emily exclaimed. "Not ten minutes,"Mrs. Ellmother reminded her, "if you will only go to sleep."

  Cecilia arrived before the breakfast-table was cleared; as lovely,as gentle, as affectionate as ever--but looking unusually serious andsubdued.

  "Out with it at once!" Emily cried. "What have you got to tell me?'

  "Perhaps, I had better tell you first," Cecilia said, "that I know whatyou kept from me when I came here, after you left us at Monksmoor. Don'tthink, my dear, that I say this by way of complaint. Mr. Alban Morrissays you had good reasons for keeping your secret."

  "Mr. Alban Morris! Did you get your information from _him?_"

  "Yes. Do I surprise you?"

  "More than words can tell!"

  "Can you bear another surprise? Mr. Morris has seen Miss Jethro, andhas discovered that Mr. Mirabel has been wrongly suspected of a dreadfulcrime. Our amiable little clergyman is guilty of being a coward--andguilty of nothing else. Are you really quiet enough to read about it?"

  She produced some leaves of paper filled with writing. "There," sheexplained, "is Mr. Morris's own account of all that passed between MissJethro and himself."

  "But how do _you_ come by it?"

  "Mr. Morris gave it to me. He said, 'Show it to Emily as soon aspossible; and take care to be with her while she reads it.' There isa reason for this--" Cecilia's voice faltered. On the brink of someexplanation, she seemed to recoil from it. "I will tell you by-and-bywhat the reason is," she said.

  Emily looked nervously at the manuscript. "Why doesn't he tell mehimself what he has discovered? Is he--" The leaves began to flutter inher trembling fingers--"is he angry with me?"

  "Oh, Emily, angry with You! Read what he has written and you shall knowwhy he keeps away."

  Emily opened the manuscript.