第24章

toentrapherintoalsousingherspeech，andfailed。Effortsweremadetoinducehertoanswerquestionsrelatingtoherpastlifeinherhusband’stime。Sheflatlydeclinedtoreplytothem，oneandall。Atcertainintervals，strangeimpulsestogetaholidayawayfromthehouseappearedtoseizeher。Ifshewasresisted，shepassivelydeclinedtodoherwork。Ifshewasthreatenedwithdismissal，sheimpenetrablybowedherhead，asmuchastosay，“Givemetheword，andIgo。“Overandoveragain，LadyLundiehaddecided，naturallyenough，onnolongerkeepingsuchaservantasthis；butshehadneveryetcarriedthedecisiontoexecution。Acookwhoisaperfectmistressofherart，whoasksfornoperquisites，whoallowsnowaste，whoneverquarrelswiththeotherservants，whodrinksnothingstrongerthantea，whoistobetrustedwithuntoldgold——isnotacookeasilyreplaced。Inthismortallifeweputupwithmanypersonsandthings，asLadyLundieputupwithhercook。Thewomanlived，asitwere，onthebrinkofdismissal——butthusfarthewomankeptherplace——gettingherholidayswhensheaskedforthem(which，todoherjustice，wasnotoften)andsleepingalways(gowhereshemightwiththefamily)withalockeddoor，inaroombyherself。

HesterDethridgeadvancedslowlytothetableatwhichLadyLundiewassitting。Aslateandpencilhungatherside，whichsheusedformakingsuchrepliesaswerenottobeexpressedbyagestureorbyamotionofthehead。Shetookuptheslateandpencil，andwaitedwithstonysubmissionforhermistresstobegin。

LadyLundieopenedtheproceedingswiththeregularformulaofinquirywhichshehadusedwithalltheotherservants“DoyouknowthatMissSilvesterhasleftthehouse？“

Thecooknoddedherheadaffirmatively，“Doyouknowatwhattimesheleftit？“

Anotheraffirmativereply。ThefirstwhichLadyLundiehadreceivedtothatquestionyet。Sheeagerlywentontothenextinquiry。

“Haveyouseenhersincesheleftthehouse？“

Athirdaffirmativereply。

“Where？“

HesterDethridgewroteslowlyontheslate，insingularlyfirmuprightcharactersforawomaninherpositionoflife，thesewords：

“Ontheroadthatleadstotherailway。NightoMistressChew’sFarm。“

“WhatdidyouwantatChew’sFarm？“

HesterDethridgewrote：“Iwantedeggsforthekitchen，andabreathoffreshairformyself。“

“DidMissSilvesterseeyou？“

Anegativeshakeofthehead。

“Didshetaketheturningthatleadstotherailway？“

Anothernegativeshakeofthehead。

“Shewenton，towardthemoor？“

Anaffirmativereply。

“Whatdidshedowhenshegottothemoor？“

HesterDethridgewrote：“ShetookthefootpathwhichleadstoCraigFernie。“

LadyLundieroseexcitedlytoherfeet。TherewasbutoneplacethatastrangercouldgotoatCraigFernie。“Theinn!“exclaimedherladyship。“Shehasgonetotheinn!“

HesterDethridgewaitedimmovably。LadyLundieputalastprecautionaryquestion，inthesewords：

“Haveyoureportedwhatyouhaveseentoanybodyelse？“

Anaffirmativereply。LadyLundiehadnotbargainedforthat。

HesterDethridge(shethought)mustsurelyhavemisunderstoodher。

“Doyoumeanthatyouhavetoldsomebodyelsewhatyouhavejusttoldme？“

Anotheraffirmativereply。

“Apersonwhoquestionedyou，asIhavedone？“

Athirdaffirmativereply。

“Whowasit？“

HesterDethridgewroteonherslate：“MissBlanche。“

LadyLundiestepp