he stammered, "the body taken into some room and attended to. Poor Daisy," he sighed, "what an end to your bright young life!" Here Mr. Drake, the rector, thought it necessary to assert himself, and waved aside the throng. "All you men and women, go to your homes," he said. "Nothing can be done to-night, and——" "The car might be followed," said a voice. "And the car will be followed," said Giles, pushing his way to the door. "Come, Trim, we'll ride at once. Did no one see the car pass out of the village?" No one had seen it, as most of the villagers had been inside the church and the rest in their homes. There was some talk and suggestions, but Ware, with a nod to Morley, took a hasty departure and disappeared into the stormy night. "He might track the car," said the rector. "He won't," replied Morley bitterly; "he'll lead Trim on a wrong scent. He liked Miss Denham too well to let her drop into the hands of the police." "Then you really think she did it?" asked Drake, horrified. "I am perfectly certain," was the reply. "Come into the library, and I'll show you what evidence I have." Meantime the hall was cleared of the eager listeners, and all present went to their homes less to sleep than to argue as to the guilt or innocence of Anne. The body of the girl was taken to her bedroom, and poor scared Mrs. Morley, roused from her bed to face this tragedy, did all that was needful, assisted by two old women, who[Pg 49] remained behind to offer their services. This was all that could be done till dawn, and Mrs. Morley, thinking of the dead Daisy and the missing Anne, wept till the first streaks of daylight. As yet her limited understanding could not grasp the horror of the thing. [Pg 49] Morley conducted Mr. Drake to the library. He related how his wife had heard Anne threaten to kill Daisy, produced the anonymous letter, detailed Daisy's accusation that the governess was in love with Ware, and finally pointed out the damning fact of the flight. The rector was quite convinced by this reasoning that Anne was guilty. "And now I come to think of it," he said, stroking
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