Coyne's footstep outside.
"What!" said Lady Bassett; "are all these ladies--" She hesitated.
"Every one," said Mr. Coyne; "and some incurably."
"Oh, please let us retire; I have no right to gratify my curiosity.
Poor things! they don't seem unhappy."
"Unhappy!" said Mr. Coyne. "We don't allow unhappiness here; our doctor
is too fond of them; he is always contriving something to please them."
At this moment Lady Bassett looked up and saw a woman watching her over
the rail of a corridor on the first floor. She recognized the face
directly. The woman made her a rapid signal, and then disappeared into
one of the rooms.
"Would there be any objection to our going upstairs, Mr. Coyne?" said
Lady Bassett, with a calm voice and a heart thumping violently.
"Oh, none whatever. I'll conduct you; but then, I am afraid I must
leave you for a time."
He showed her upstairs, blew a whistle, handed her over to an
attendant, and bowed and smiled himself away grotesquely.
Jones was the very keeper she had feed last visit. She flushed with joy
at sight of bull-necked, burly Jones. "Oh, Mr. Jones!" said she,
putting her hands together with a look that might have melted a
hangman.
Jones winked, and watched Mr. Coyne out of sight.
"I have seen your ladyship's maid," said Jones, confidentially.
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