She came out on the
landing and shut the door behind her.
"He is very ill," she said; "and he hears a strange voice even in his
sleep. A strange voice is dreadful to him."
Her voice was not strange, and the moment she spoke it seemed to light
up her face: Hester, with a pang she could scarcely have accounted for,
recognized Amy Amber.
"Amy!" she said.
"Oh, Miss Raymount!" cried Amy joyfully, "is it indeed you? Are you come
at last? I thought I was never to see you any more!"
"You bewilder me," said Hester. "How do you come to be here? I don't
understand."
"_He_ brought me here."
"_Who_ brought you here?"
"Why, miss!" exclaimed Amy, as if hearing the most unexpected of
questions, "who should it be?"
"I have not the slightest idea," returned Hester.
But the same instant a feeling strangely mingled of alarm, discomfort,
indignation, and relief crossed her mind.
Through her whiteness Amy turned whiter still, and she turned a little
away, like a person offended.
"There is but one, miss!" she said coldly. "Who should it be but him?"
"Speak his name," said Hester almost sternly. "This is no time for
hide-and-seek.
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