She had not, then, removed her
jewels or changed her dress. What could have taken her down to
the lake? Why was Lord Airlie's locket so tightly clinched in
her hand?
Lord Airlie, when he was calm enough to speak, suggested that she
might have fallen asleep, tired, before undressing--that in her
sleep she might have walked out, gone to the edge of the lake,
and fallen in.
That version spread among the servants. From them it spread like
wildfire around the whole country-side; the country papers were
filled with it, and the London papers afterward told how "the
beautiful Miss Earle" had been drowned while walking in her
sleep.
But Lord Airlie's suggestion did not satisfy Ronald Earle; he
would not leave the darkened chamber. Women's gentle hands
removed the bright jewels and the evening dress. Lady Helena,
with tears that fell like rain, dried the long, waving hair, and
drew it back from the placid brow. She closed the eyes, but she
could not cross the white hands on the cold breast. One held the
locket in the firm, tight clasp of death, and it could not be
moved.
Ronald would not leave the room.
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