Page:Edgar Jepson--the four philanthropists.djvu/222

214 solemnity; and I saw that he, too, was deeply impressed by the gravity of the affair.

We had some tea with Mr. Brodrick, and caught the train to Hardstotfe. We went to the "Rose and Crown" to engage rooms and order dinner, and our welcome at that old-time inn surpassed my most sanguine expectations. We were hailed as deliverers from an imminent peril; and Mrs. Chivers, the wife of the landlord, shed tears as she said: "You can't think, Mr. Marmaduke, what a relief it is to see you and Mr. Brodrick. The suspense 'as been that orful, we none of us knew but what we might be murdered in our beds! She might break out at any moment!"

Apparently they had convinced themselves that Mrs. Jubb might waddle down and decimate the village with a hatchet.

"It's very shocking, Mrs. Chivers. We are going to take measures at once," said Marmaduke.

He went off with Mr. Brodrick to confer with Dr. Beach, and while they were gone I talked with the landlord and Mrs. Chivers. He had been butler and she parlor-maid in the service of Marmaduke's father. They were full to bubbling over of Mrs. Jubb's insanity, and they gave me the opinions of every one, of the police, the vicar, the doctor and the village on the matter. Every one had the opinion I could have wished. I learned,