Laurahadtakenmyarmwhilehewasspeaking，andshepresseditsignificantlywhenhehaddone。Itwouldhavebeenahardtrialtoanywomantostandbyandseetheofficeofapologistforherhusband’smisconductquietlyassumedbyhismalefriendinherownhouse——anditwasatrialtoher。
IthankedtheCountcivilly，andledherout。Yes！Ithankedhim：forI
feltalready，withasenseofinexpressiblehelplessnessandhumiliation，thatitwaseitherhisinterestorhiscapricetomakesureofmycontinuingtoresideatBlackwaterPark，andIknewafterSirPercival’sconducttome，thatwithoutthesupportoftheCount’sinfluence，Icouldnothopetoremainthere。Hisinfluence，theinfluenceofallothersthatIdreadedmost，wasactuallytheonetiewhichnowheldmetoLaurainthehourofherutmostneed！
Weheardthewheelsofthedog-cartcrashingonthegravelofthedriveaswecameintothehall。SirPercivalhadstartedonhisjourney。
`Whereishegoingto，Marian？’Laurawhispered。`Everyfreshthinghedoesseemstoterrifymeaboutthefuture。Haveyouanysuspicions？’