Mary Barton

Chapter 25

"Something there was, what, none presumed to say,

Clouds lightly passing on a smiling day,--

Whispers and hints which went from ear to ear,

And mixed reports no judge on earth could clear."

--CRABBE.

"Curious conjectures he may always make,

And either side of dubious questions take."

--IBID.

Mary went home. Oh! how her head did ache, and how dizzy her brain was growing! But there would be time enough she felt for giving way hereafter.

So she sat quiet and still by an effort; sitting near the window, and looking out of it, but seeing nothing, when all at once she caught sight of something which roused her up, and made her draw back.

But it was too late. She had been seen.

Sally Leadbitter flaunted into the little dingy room, making it gaudy with the Sunday excess of colouring in