When the three met, Emilia was walking across a plank
on the unfinished second story. On seeing the Loach girls--
this is Isabella's tale--Emilia lost her footing and fell
thirty feet. She was killed almost instantaneously, and her
face was much disfigured. This took place during the dinner
hour when the workmen were absent. When they returned, the
body was found and recognized by the clothes."
"Did not the girls remain?"
"No. They took fright at the accident and returned home. But
here a fresh disaster awaited them. Mr. Loach was dead. He
died suddenly of heart disease. Selina at once broke her
engagement with the American, and--"
"And returned to you?"
"Strangely enough she did not. I never saw her again. After
the death of the father the girls went to the Continent, and
only came back after two years abroad. Then Isabella, after
vainly trying to get me to marry her, became the wife of
Saxon, then a rising barrister. Selina went to Rexton and
shut herself up in the house she now has."
"The house she did have," corrected Cuthbert, "you forget she
is dead."
"Yes. I tried to see her, but she refused to look on my face
again, alleging that I had treated her badly by becoming
engaged to Miss Saul. That poor soul was buried, and then I
shut up the house and left it as it is now. I travelled, as
you know, for years, and I am travelling still, for the matter
of that," added Caranby with a sigh, "all Selina's fault.
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