But as the earth is wrenched open by volcanic eruptions and long
buried corpses are revealed again to the light of day, so the
unexpected sight of Arthur Stuart, as he took his place beside Mabel
and the Baroness during the funeral services, revealed all the pent-
up passion of her heart to her own frightened soul.
To strong natures, the greater the inward excitement the more quiet
the exterior; and Jay passed through the services, and performed her
duties, without betraying to those about her the violent emotions
under which she laboured.
The rector of Beryngford Church requested her to remain for a few
moments, and consult with him on a matter concerning the next week's
musical services. It was from him Joy learned the relation which
Arthur Stuart bore to the dead man, and that Beryngford was the
former home of the Baroness.
Her mother's manuscript had carefully avoided all mention of names of
people or places. Yet Joy realised now that she must be living in
the very scene of her mother's early life; she longed to make
inquiries, but was prevented by the fear that she might hear her
mother's name mentioned disrespectfully.
The days that followed were full of sharp agony for her. It was not
until long afterward that she was able to write her "impressions" of
that experience.
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