Page:Quiller-Couch--Old fires and profitable ghosts.djvu/89

Rh his wife. Just think of that tender child washing up after their nasty doings!'

"I shivered.

"‘But that wasn't the worst, miss—not by a long way. There was a pair here—from the colonies, or so they gave out—with two children, a boy and gel, the eldest scarce six. Poor mites!'

"‘Why, what happened?'

"‘They beat those children, miss—your blood would boil!—and starved, and tortured 'em, it's my belief. You could hear their screams, I've been told, away back in the high-road, and that's the best part of half a mile. Sometimes they was locked up without food for days together. But it's my belief that little Miss Margaret managed to feed them somehow. Oh, I can see her, creeping to the door and comforting!'

"‘But perhaps she never showed herself when these awful people were here, but took to flight until they left.'

"‘You didn't never know her, miss. The brave she was! She'd have stood up to lions. She've been here all the while: and only to think what her innocent eyes and ears must have took in! There was another couple' Mrs. Carkeek sunk her voice.

"‘Oh, hush!' said I, 'if I'm to have any peace of mind in this house!'

"‘But you won't go, miss? She loves you, I know she do. And think what you might be