"
Lady Bassett put her hand to her brow, and thought.
"Mary," said she, "all this is very mysterious. We are wading in deep
waters."
Mary Wells had no idea what she meant.
The day was not over yet. Just before dinner-time a fly from the
station drove to the door, and Mr. Oldfield got out.
He was detained in the hall by sentinel Moss.
Lady Bassett came down to him. At the very sight of him she trembled,
and said, "Richard Bassett?"
"Yes," said Mr. Oldfield, "he is in the field again. He has been to the
Court of Chancery _ex parte,_ and obtained an injunction _ad interim_
to stay waste. Not another tree must be cut down on the estate for the
present."
"Thank Heaven it is no worse than that. Not another tree shall be
felled on the grounds."
"Of course not. But they will not stop there. If we do not move to
dissolve the injunction, I fear they will go on and ask the Court to
administer the estate, with a view to all interests concerned,
especially those of the heir at law and his son."
"What, while my husband lives?"
"If they can prove him dead in law."
"I don't understand you, Mr. Oldfield."
"They have got affidavits of two medical men that he is insane."
Lady Bassett uttered a faint scream, and put her hand to her heart.
"And, of course, they will use that extraordinary fall of timber as a
further proof, and also as a reason why the Court should interfere to
protect the heir at law.
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