Out of her sphere - University Library

50 OUT OF HER SPHERE.
home quite so fully : that she was still here,
a living, breathing woman, taught, at
length, what it was to quiver beneath her
husband's anger, and the scorn of the little
world around her. She was out of her
reach at last, as much as if she had been
flying from Wearmouth with Audley Dale.
Clare had not very much time to think
that, after all, there was a bitter-sweet even
in her revenge, when Mr. Harben returned
with Deb. He was not at all surprised at
finding Mr. Thornton laid up. " It was
only what he had been long expecting," he
said to Clare. '' No constitution could
stand the wear and tear of the life that Mr.
Thornton led. There was a low fever set
in. He would want quiet, rest, and careful
nursing. Where was Mrs. Thornton T
Clare looked down, and replied gravely,
as if she hardly knew how to communicate
such an awkward piece of intelHgence, that
her mistress had left home the preceding