"Take him home presently," she said to the men who were with him--and
then passed on again.
As they got through the gatehouse, Isabel stepped forward to Mistress
Margaret's side.
"Shall I come?" she whispered; and the nun shook her head; so she with
her father and brother stood there to watch, with the crowd silent and
ashamed behind. The two torchbearers went on and stood by the steps as
the three ladies ascended, leaving black footmarks as they went. The door
was open and faces of servants peeped out, and hands were thrust out to
take the burden from their mistress, but she shook her head, and the
three came in together, and the door closed.
As the Norrises went back silently, the Rector passed them, with a little
group accompanying him too; he, too, could hardly walk alone, so
exhausted was he with his furious struggles to rescue his wife.
"Take your sister home," said Mr. Norris to Anthony; and they saw him
slip off and pass his arm through the Rector's, and bend down his
handsome kindly face to the minister's staring eyes and moving lips as he
too led him homewards.
Even Anthony was hushed and impressed, and hardly spoke a word until he
and Isabel turned off down the little dark lane to the Dower House.
"We could do nothing," he said, "father and I--until Lady Maxwell came."
"No," said Isabel softly, "she only could have done it."
CHAPTER X
A CONFESSOR
Sir Nicholas and the party were lodged at East Grinsted the night of
their arrest, in the magistrate's house.
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