下载辰思小说免费APP
’Verywell，then！’exclaimedBob，withsuddendetermination。’NowI
knowmydoom！Andwhateveryouhearofashappeningtome，mindthis，youcruelgirl，thatitisallyourcausing！’Sayingthishestrodewithahastytreadacrosstheroomintothepassageandoutatthedoor，slammingitloudlybehindhim。
Annesuddenlylookedupfromherhandkerchief，andstaredwithroundweteyesandpartedlipsatthedoorbywhichhehadgone。Havingremainedwithsuspendedbreathinthisattitudeforafewsecondssheturnedround，bentherheaduponthetable，andburstoutweepinganewwiththricetheviolenceoftheformertime。Itreallyseemednowasifhergriefwouldoverwhelmher，alltheemotionswhichhadbeensuppressed，bottledup，andconcealedsinceBob’sreturnhavingmadethemselvesasluiceatlast。
Butsuchthingshavetheirend；andlefttoherselfinthelarge，vacant，oldapartment，shegrewquieter，andatlastcalm。Atlengthshetookthecandleandascendedtoherbedroom，whereshebathedhereyesandlookedintheglasstoseeifshehadmadeherselfadreadfulobject。Itwasnotsobadasshehadexpected，andshewentdownstairsagain。
Nobodywasthere，and，sittingdown，shewonderedwhatBobhadreallymeantbyhiswords。Itwastoodreadfultothinkthatheintendedtogostraightawaytoseawithoutseeingheragain，andfrightenedatwhatshehaddoneshewaitedanxiouslyforhisreturn。
Hersuspensewasinterruptedbyaverygentletappingatthedoor，andthentherustleofahandoveritssurface，asifsearchingforthelatchinthedark。Thedooropenedafewinches，andthealabasterfaceofUncleBenjyappearedintheslit。
’O，SquireDerriman，youfrightenme！’
’Allalone？’heaskedinawhisper。
’MymotherandMr。Lovedayaresomewhereaboutthehouse。’
’Thatwilldo，’hesaid，comingforward。’Ibewherritedoutofmylife，andIhavethoughtofyouagain——youyourself，dearAnne，andnotthemiller。IfyouwillonlytakethisandlockitupforafewdaystillIcanfindanothergoodplaceforit——ifyouonlywould！’
Andhebreathlesslydepositedthetinboxonthetable。
’What，obligedtodigitupfromthecellar？’
’Ay；mynephewhathascentoftheplace——how，Idon’tknow！butheandayoungwomanhe’smetwitharesearchingeverywhere。Iworkedlikeawire-drawertogetitupandawaywhiletheywerescrapinginthenextcellar。Nowwherecouldyeputit，dear？’Tisonlyafewdocuments，andmywill，andsuchlike，youknow。Poorsoulo’me，I’mwornoutwithrunningandfright！’
’I’llputitheretillIcanthinkofabetterplace，’saidAnne，liftingthebox。’Dearme，howheavyitis！’
’Yes，yes，’saidUncleBenjyhastily；’theboxisiron，yousee。
However，takecareofit，becauseIamgoingtomakeitworthyourwhile。Ah，youareagoodgirl，Anne。Iwishyouwasmine！’
AnnelookedatUncleBenjy。Shehadknownforsometimethatshepossessedalltheaffectionhehadtobestow。
’Whydoyouwishthat？’shesaidsimply。
’Nowdon’tyearguewithme。Whered’yeputthecoffer？’
’Here，’saidAnne，goingtothewindow-seat，whichroseasaflap，disclosingaboxedreceptaclebeneath，asinmanyoldhouses。
’’Tisverywellforthepresent，’hesaiddubiously，andtheydroppedthecofferin，Annelockingdowntheseat，andgivinghimthekey。’NowIdon’twantyetobeonmysidefornothing，’hewenton。’Ineverdidnow，didI？Thisisforyou。’Hehandedheralittlepacketofpaper，whichAnneturnedoverandlookedatcuriously。’Ialwaysmeanttodoit，’continuedUncleBenjy，gazingatthepacketasitlayinherhand，andsighing。’Come，openit，mydear；Ialwaysmeanttodoit！’
Sheopeneditandfoundtwentynewguineassnuglypackedwithin。
’Yes，theyareforyou。Ialwaysmeanttodoit！’hesaid，sighingagain。
’Butyouowemenothing！’returnedAnne，holdingthemout。
’Don’tsayit！’criedUncleBenjy，coveringhiseyes。’Put’emaway……Well，ifyouDON’Twant’em
