She rarely saw Stephen except for a few moments late in the evening.

He had ventured into Mrs.
Carr's room once or twice; but his presence seemed to disturb her, the only presence that had done so.

She looked distressed, made agonizing efforts to speak, and with the hand she could lift made a gesture to repel him when he drew near the bed.

In Mercy's overwrought state, this seemed to her like an omen.

She shuddered, and drew Stephen away.
"O Stephen," she said, "she knows now that I have deceived her about you.
Don't come near her again." "You never deceived her, darling.