But Mr.Ambrose was startled when he saw her and feared that she was very ill.
"My dear Mrs.Goddard," he said, "what is the matter?
Are you ill?
Has anything happened ?" As he spoke he changed the form of his question, suddenly recollecting that Mr.Juxon had probably on the previous afternoon told her of her husband's escape, as he had meant to do.

This might be the cause of her indisposition.
"Yes," she said in a voice that did not sound like her own, "I have asked you to come because I am in great trouble--in desperate trouble." "Dear me," said the vicar, "I hope not!" "Not desperate?
Perhaps not.

Dear Mr.Ambrose, you have always been so kind to me--I am sure you can help me now." Her voice trembled.
"Indeed I will do my best," said the vicar who judged from so unusual an outburst that there must be really something wrong.

"If you could tell me what it is--" he suggested.
"That is the hardest part of it," said the unhappy woman.

She paused a moment as though to collect her strength.