Busy times in Wheal Carnac. There had been plenty of visitors in the
shape of managers of different mines, to whom the news had come; and all
went away astounded at the wealth of the new vein. The demand for
shares was enormous, but there were none to be had. Tregenna had had
the last, taken to blind Mr Penwynn, and he had sold them to Dr
Rumsey, who had invested the whole of his wife's little fortune in the
mine, and the next morning after the news had spread, the doctor had
hurried up to the cottage, where Geoffrey was seated at breakfast with
Uncle Paul, an unusually fine sole from the trawler having brought them
together.
Madge opened the door to the doctor, who shook hands with her in a
friendly way; and then, as their eyes met, Madge's friendly smile
changed into a look of fear, under the doctor's searching gaze. She
flushed, then turned deadly pale, and ended by shrinking back with a
piteous look, and holding up her hands in a pleading way.