Marcella gave her money, and sent her for some eggs to the neighbouring shop, then told her to come back in half an hour and take charge.

She was an incapable, but there was nothing better to be done.

"Where is Miss Harden ?" she asked the woman.

The answer was that ever since the news came to the village the rector and his sister had been with Mrs.Westall and Charlie Dyne's mother.

Mrs.
Westall had gone into fit after fit; it had taken two to hold her, and Charlie's mother, who was in bed recovering from pneumonia, had also been very bad.
Again Marcella's heart contracted with rage rather than pity.