Fergus Hume

“ Richard Hustings, the attentions of Mr. Richard Hustings, occurred to her, and she nodded approval of the thought. Here was a helper, if Miss More was willing to accept him as such. He was a lawyer, as well as a lover, and the qualities of both were admirably fitted to deal with things as they were. Having reached this point in her meditations, Jenny decided to take action, and meanwhile occupied herself with various domestic duties until the day was waning. Then she went through the village and beyond the village on an errand, which resulted in a surprise to Aileen. ”

“ Aileen had been her friend from the first, treating her as a human being, and not as a machine. Always suspicious of the better classes and their aloof attitude, Jenny was moved out of her ordinary stolidity by the unusual sympathy of the girl. Aileen had given her ribbons and gloves, sometimes sweets and cheap jewellery ”

“ Slanton had been drugged, I never gave a thought to the opium pipe.”
“H’m!” Trant rubbed his chin, doubtfully, “then you believe that your friend is innocent—and in the face of such damning evidence?”
“Mr. Trant!” Aileen was very earnest, very direct. “I don’t know what to think, or what to say. Miss Danby has been, and is, a good kind friend to me, and, so far as I know her, one of the sweetest and bravest women in the world. It is incredible to me that she should brand this man and kill this man, unless she was out of her mind at the moment. Then, of course, she can’t be held culpable.” ”

“ Had she permitted her innermost feelings to sway her, she could easily have drawn a declaration from him on many occasions. But, so far, an innate maidenly fear had prevented her from casting her net. ”

“ Then Jenny Walton entered the parlour, stolid, slow-footed, but helpful, since she brought tea and comfortable advice. “Come, come, Miss Aileen,” coaxed this red-haired angel of sympathy, in her heavy dragging voice, “there ain’t no use in taking on so. ‘’Earts up,’ as mother ses, she being a Baptist and ’appy in ’er sorrers as never was. ’Ere’s bread and butter and tea: both uf them will ’elp you to bear up. Y’ can’t be jiful with an empty inside, nohow.”
“You’re very kind, Jenny.” Aileen sat up with a sigh and accepted a cup of tea thankfully, “I am thirsty, but not hungry.” ”