\"how do you know?\"

\"because i distinctly put the question to the surgeon of the infirmary. hetold me there was an internal disease of long standing, caused byleonards\" habit of drinking to excess; that the fact of his beingrapidly worse while in a state of intoxication, settled the question as towhether the last fatal attack was caused by excess of drinking, or thefall.\"

\"the fall! what fall?\"

\"caused by the blow or push of which betsy speaks.\"

\"then there was a blow or push?\"

\"i believe so.\"

\"and who did it?\"

\"as there was no inquest, in consequence of the doctor\"s opinion, icannot tell you.\"

\"but miss hale was there?\"

no answer.

\"and with a young man?\"

still no answer. at last he said: \"i tell you, mother, that there was noinquest--no inquiry. no judicial inquiry, i mean.\"

\"betsy says that woolmer (some man she knows, who is in a grocer\"sshop out at crampton) can swear that miss hale was at the station atthat hour, walking backwards and forwards with a young man.\"

\"i don\"t see what we hāve to do with that. miss hale is at liberty toplease herself.\"

\"i\"m glad to hear you say so,\" said mrs. thornton, eagerly. \"it certainlysignifies very little to us--not at all to you, after what has passed! but i-imade a promise to mrs. hale, that i would not allow her daughter togo wrong without advising and remonstrating with her. i shall certainlylet her know my opinion of such conduct.\"

\"i do not see any harm in what she did that evening,\" said mr. thornton,getting up, and ing near to his mother; he stood by the chimney-piece with his face turned away from the room.

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