"Calling her names! ordering her out of the house! Did Mrs. Brudenell
dare to treat Nora Worth so?" cried Hannah indignantly.
"Well, honey, she did rayther, that's a fact. Law, honey, you know
yourself how ha'sh ladies is to poor young gals as has done wrong. A
hawk down on a chicken aint nuffin to 'em!"
"But my sister has done no wrong; Nora Worth is as innocent as an angel,
as honorable as an empress. I can prove it, and I will prove it, let the
consequences to the Brudenells be what they may! Called her ill names,
did she? Very well! whether my poor wronged child lives or dies this
bitter night, I will clear her character to-morrow, let who will be
blackened instead of her! Ordered her out of the house, did she? All
right! we will soon see how long the heir himself will be permitted to
stop there! There's law in the land, for rich as well as poor, I reckon!
Threatened her with a constable, did she? Just so! I wonder how she will
feel when her own son is dragged off to prison! That will take her
down--"
Hannah's words were suddenly cut short, for Jovial, who was going on
before her, fell sprawling over some object that lay directly across the
path, and the lantern rolled down the hill.
"What is the matter, Jovial?" she inquired.
"Honey, I done fell--fell over somefin' or oder; it is--law, yes--"
"What, Jovial?"
"It's a 'oman, honey; feels like Miss Nora."
In an instant Hannah was down on her knees beside the fallen figure,
clearing away the snow that covered it.
"It is Nora," she said, trying to lift the insensible body; but it was a
cold, damp, heavy weight, deeply bedded in the snow, and resisted all
her efforts.
"Oh, Jovial, I am afraid she is dead! and I cannot get her up! You come
and try!" wept Hannah.
"Well, there now, I knowed it--I jest did; I knowed if she was turned
out in de snow-storm this night she'd freeze to death! Ole mist'ess aint
no better dan a she-bearess!" grumbled the old man, as he rooted his
arms under the cold dead weight of the unfortunate girl, and with much
tugging succeeded in raising her.
"Now, den, Miss Hannah, hadn't I better tote her back to my ole 'oman?"
"No; we are much nearer the hut than the hall, and even if it were not
so, I would not have her taken back there."