As soon as this frenzy a little subsided, Donica laid her hand firmly on the young lady's arm.
"Come, Lady Jane, you must stop that," she said, sternly. "What _I_ hear matters nothing, but there's others that must not. The house full o' servants; _think_, my darling, and don't let yourself _down_. Come away with me to Wardlock--this is no place any longer for you--and let your maid follow. Come along, Miss Jennie; come, darling. Come by the glass door, there is no one there, and the chaise waiting outside. Come, miss, you must not lower yourself before the like o' them that's about the house."
It was an accident; but this appeal did touch her pride.
"Well, Donnie, I will. It matters little who now knows everything. Wait one moment--my face. Give me a towel."
And with feminine precaution she hastily bathed her eyes and face, looking into the glass, and adjusted her hair.
Old Gwynn adjusted it, and Lady Jane gathered in its folds in her hand; and behind this mask, with old Donnie near her, she glided down-stairs without encountering anyone, and entered the carriage, and lay back in one of its corners, leaving to Gwynn, who followed, to give the driver his directions.
When they had driven about a mile, Lady Jane became strangely excited.
"I must see him again--I _must_ see him. Stop it. I _will_. Stop it." She was tugging at the window, which was stiff. "Stop him, Gwynn. Stop him, woman, and turn back."
"Don't, Miss Jennie; don't, darling. Ye could not, miss. Ye would not face all them strangers, ma'am."
"Face them! What do you mean? _Face_ them! How dare they? I despise them--I _defy_ them! What is their staring and whispering to me? I'll go back. I'll return. I _will_ see him again."
"Well, Miss Jennie, where's the good? He's cold by this time."
"I must see him again, Donnie--I _must_."
"You'll only see what will frighten you. You never saw a corpse, miss."
"Oh! Donnie, Donnie, Donnie, don't--you mustn't. Oh! Donnie, yes, he's gone, he is--he's _gone_, Donnie, and _I_'ve been his ruin. I--I--my wicked, wretched vanity. He's gone, lost for ever, and it's _I_ who've done it all. It's _I_, Donnie. I've destroyed him."
It was well that they were driving in a lonely place, over a rough way, and at a noisy pace, for in sheer distraction Lady Jane screamed these wild words of unavailing remorse.