‘The less talk there is about it the better,’ said Camilla.  On the following day Mr Crump called by appointment on Mr Gibson, and remained closeted with that gentleman for the greater portion of the morning.  Camilla knew well that he was going, and went about the house like a perturbed spirit during his absence.  There was a look about her that made them all doubt whether she was not, in truth, losing her mind.  Her mother more than once went to the pantry to see that the knives were right; and, as regarded that sharp-pointed weapon, was careful to lock it up carefully out of her daughter’s way.  Mr Crump had declared himself willing to take Camilla back to Gloucester, and had laughed at the obstacles which his niece might, perhaps, throw in the way of such an arrangement.  ‘She mustn’t have much luggage, that is all,’ said Mr Crump.  For Mr Crump had been made aware of the circumstances of the trousseau.  About three o’clock Mr Crump came back from Mr Gibson’s, and expressed a desire to be left alone with Camilla.  Mrs French was prepared for everything; and Mr Crump soon found himself with his younger niece.

‘Camilla, my dear,’ said he, ‘this has been a bad business.’

‘I don’t know what business you mean, Uncle Jonas.’

’Yes, you do, my dear, you know.  And I hope it won’t come too late to prove to you that young women shouldn’t be too keen in setting their caps at the gentlemen.  It’s better for them to be hunted, than to hunt.’

‘Uncle Jonas, I will not be insulted.’

’Stick to that, my dear, and you won’t get into a scrape again.  Now, look here.  This man can never be made to marry you, anyhow.’

’I wouldn’t touch him with a pair of tongs, if he were kneeling at my feet!’

’That’s right; stick to that.  Of course, you wouldn’t now, after all that has come and gone.  No girl with any spirit would.’

’He’s a coward and a thief, and he’ll be damned for what he has done, some of these days!’

’T-ch, t-ch, t-ch!  That isn’t a proper way for a young lady to talk.  That’s cursing and swearing.’

‘It isn’t cursing and swearing—­it’s what the Bible says.’

’Then we’ll leave him to the Bible.  In the meantime, Mr Gibson wants to marry some one else, and that can’t hurt you.’

‘He may marry whom he likes, but he shan’t marry Bella, that’s all!’

‘It is Bella that he means to marry.’

’Then he won’t.  I’ll forbid the banns.  I’ll write to the bishop.  I’ll go to the church and prevent its being done.  I’ll make such a noise in the town that it can’t be done.  It’s no use your looking at me like that, Uncle Jonas.  I’ve got my own feelings, and he shall never marry Bella.  It’s what they have been intending all through, and it shan’t be done!’

‘It will be done.’

’Uncle Jonas, I’ll stab her to the heart, and him too, before I’ll see it done!  Though I were to be killed the next day, I would.  Could you bear it?’