Shirley

obscurity of her retreat.
    »Are you much hurt?« she inquired.
    »As you might scratch your finger with a needle in sewing«
    »Lift your hair, and let us see.«
    He took his hat off, and did as he was bid, disclosing only a narrow slip of court-plaster. Caroline indicated, by a slight movement of the head, that she was satisfied, and disappeared within the clear obscure of the interior.
    »How did she know I was hurt?« asked Moore.
    »By rumour, no doubt. But it is too good in her to trouble herself about you. For my part, it was of your victims I was thinking when I inquired after the wounded: what damage have your opponents sustained?«
    »One of the rioters, or victims, as you call them, was killed, and six were hurt.«
    »What have you done with them?«
    »What you will perfectly approve. Medical aid was procured immediately; and as soon as we can get a couple of covered waggons, and some clean straw, they will be removed to Stilbro'.«
    »Straw! you must have beds and bedding. I will send my waggon directly, properly furnished; and Mr. Yorke, I am sure, will send his.«
    »You guess correctly: he has volunteered already; and Mrs. Yorke – who, like you, seems disposed to regard the rioters as martyrs, and me, and especially Mr. Helstone, as murderers – is at this moment, I believe, most assiduously engaged in fitting it up with feather-beds, pillows, bolsters, blankets, etc. The
victims
lack no attention – I promise you. Mr. Hall – your favourite parson – has been with them ever since six o'clock, exhorting them, praying with them, and even waiting on them like any nurse; and Caroline's good friend, Miss Ainley, that
very
plain old maid, sent in a stock of lint and linen, something in the proportion of another lady's allowance of beef and wine.«
    »That will do. Where is your sister?«
    »Well cared for. I had her securely domiciled with Miss Mann. This very morning, the two set out for Wormwood Wells (a noted watering-place), and will stay there some weeks.«
    »So Mr. Helstone domiciled me at the Rectory! Mighty clever you gentlemen think you are! I make you heartily welcome to the idea, and hope its savour, as you chew the cud of reflection upon it, gives you pleasure. Acute and astute, why are you not also omniscient? How is it that events transpire, under your very noses, of which you have no suspicion? It should be so, otherwise the exquisite gratification of out-manœuvring you would be unknown. Ah! friend, you may search my countenance, but you cannot read it.«
    Moore, indeed, looked as if he could not.
    »You think me a dangerous specimen of my sex. Don't you, now?«
    »A peculiar one, at least.«
    »But Caroline – is she peculiar?«
    »In her way – yes.«
    »Her way! What is her way?«
    »You know her as well as I do.«
    »And knowing her I assert that she is neither eccentric nor difficult of control: is she?«
    »That depends –«
    »However, there is nothing masculine about
her?
«
    »Why lay such emphasis on
her?
Do you consider her a contrast, in that respect, to yourself?«
    »You do, no doubt: but that does not signify. Caroline is neither masculine, nor of what they call the spirited order of women.«
    »I have seen her flash out.«
    »So have I – but not with manly fire: it was a short, vivid, trembling glow, that shot up, shone, vanished –«
    »And left her scared at her own daring. You describe others besides Caroline.«
    »The point I wish to establish is, that Miss Helstone, though gentle, tractable, and candid enough, is still perfectly capable of defying even Mr. Moore's penetration.«
    »What have you and she been doing?« asked Moore, suddenly.
    »Have you had any breakfast?«
    »What is your mutual mystery?«
    »If you are hungry, Mrs. Gill will give you something to eat here. Step into the oak-parlour, and ring the bell – you will be served as if at an inn; or, if you like better, go back to the Hollow.«
    »The alternative is not open to me: I
must
go back. Good-morning: the first leisure I have, I will see you again.«
     
     
Chapter XXI
Mrs. Pryor
    While Shirley was talking with Moore, Caroline rejoined Mrs. Pryor up-stairs. She found that lady deeply depressed. She would not say that Miss Keeldar's hastiness had hurt her feelings; but it was evident an inward wound galled her. To any but a congenial nature, she would have seemed insensible to the quiet, tender attentions by which Miss Helstone sought to impart solace; but Caroline knew that, unmoved or