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180 Such was the tenor of her husband's letter: scarcely, however, had she given it a second perusal, and received from it some degree of comfort, than Robert again appeared. Abruptly advancing, but stopping ere he drew near her, dismay over-spreading each sable feature, he stammered forth something, but his words failed him: "My dear missus, dese be sad crosses", said at last poor Robert; he walked mournfully aside, and then returned to where he stood before; he was spared, however, the pain of further explanation by the entrance of Mr. and Mrs. Philimore, who could not but perceive the confusion reigning over the countenances of both mistress and servant, nor were they ignorant of the cause. With his head bent down, Robert slowly and silently quitted the apartment.

An execution had taken place in the house; two bailiffs had planted themselves in the passage, and prevented the free ingress of Mr. and Mrs. Philimore in their ascent leading to the sitting-room of Mrs. De Brooke, who they supposed would be the first to open to them this new subject of distress. Alarmed at the insinuations of Robert, but far from penetrating into the real cause of his mysterious manner, Mrs. De Brooke still preserved