He bent towards her, and spoke in a low tone
of compassion.
"I fear that the letter does contain bad news; very bad news, indeed.
Ro--"
"Good heavens! what has happened to him?" she interrupted, falling into
excitement, just as Roland himself might have done. "Is he ill? Has he
got hurt? Is he killed?"
"Now, pray calm yourself, Lady Augusta. Roland is well in health, and
has sailed for Port Natal, under what he considers favourable auspices.
He--"
"Then why in the world do you come terrifying me out of my wits with
your tales, William Yorke?" she broke forth. "I declare you are no
better than a child!"
"Nay, Lady Augusta, you terrified yourself, jumping to conclusions.
Though Roland is safe and sound, there is still some very disagreeable
news to be told concerning him. He has been making a confession of bad
behaviour."
"Oh," cried Lady Augusta, in a tone which seemed to say, "Is that
all?" as if bad behaviour and Roland might have some affinity for each
other. William Yorke bent his head nearer, and dropped his voice lower.
"In that mysterious affair of the bank-note, when Arthur Channing was
accused--"
"Well? well?" she hastily repeated--for he had made a slight pause--and
a tone of dread, as a shadow of evil, might be detected in her accents.
"It was Roland who took the note."
Lady Augusta jumped up. She _would_ not receive it. "It is not true; it
cannot be true!" she reiterated.
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