第36章

AtthosewordsAnnesuddenlyshookoffthedepressionthatweighedonher。ShecaughtBlancheinherarms，sheheldBlanchetoherbosomwithafierceenergy。“Willyoualwaysbetome，inthefuture，whatyouarenow？“sheasked，abruptly。“Oristhetimecomingwhenyouwillhateme？“Shepreventedanyreplybyakiss——andpushedBlanchetowardthedoor。“Wehavehadahappytimetogetherintheyearsthataregone，“shesaid，withafarewellwaveofherhand。“ThankGodforthat!Andnevermindtherest。“

Shethrewopenthebedroomdoor，andcalledtothemaid，inthesitting-room。“MissLundieiswaitingforyou。“Blanchepressedherhand，andlefther。

Annewaitedawhileinthebedroom，listeningtothesoundmadebythedepartureofthecarriagefromtheinndoor。Littlebylittle，thetrampofthehorsesandthenoiseoftherollingwheelslessenedandlessened。Whenthelastfaintsoundswerelostinsilenceshestoodforamomentthinking——then，rousingonasudden，hurriedintothesitting-room，andrangthebell。

“Ishallgomad，“shesaidtoherself，“ifIstayherealone。“

EvenMr。Bishopriggsfeltthenecessityofbeingsilentwhenhestoodfacetofacewithheronansweringthebell。

“Iwanttospeaktohim。Sendhimhereinstantly。“

Mr。Bishopriggsunderstoodher，andwithdrew。

Arnoldcamein。

“Hasshegone？“werethefirstwordshesaid。

“Shehasgone。Shewon’tsuspectyouwhenyouseeheragain。I

havetoldhernothing。Don’taskmeformyreasons!“

“Ihavenowishtoaskyou。“

“Beangrywithme，ifyoulike!“

“Ihavenowishtobeangrywithyou。“

Hespokeandlookedlikeanalteredman。Quietlyseatinghimselfatthetable，herestedhisheadonhishand——andsoremainedsilent。Annewastakencompletelybysurprise。Shedrewnear，andlookedathimcuriously。Letawoman’smoodbewhatitmay，itiscertaintofeeltheinfluenceofanychangeforwhichsheisunpreparedinthemannerofaman——whenthatmaninterestsher。

Thecauseofthisisnottobefoundinthevariablenessofherhumor。ItisfarmoreprobablytobetracedtothenobleabnegationofSelf，whichisoneofthegrandest——andtothecreditofwomanbeitsaid——oneofthecommonestvirtuesofthesex。Littlebylittle，thesweetfemininecharmofAnne’sfacecamesoftlyandsadlyback。Theinbrednobilityofthewoman’snatureansweredthecallwhichthemanhadunconsciouslymadeonit。ShetouchedArnoldontheshoulder。

“Thishasbeenhardon_you，_“shesaid。“AndIamtoblameforit。Tryandforgiveme，Mr。Brinkworth。Iamsincerelysorry。I

wishwithallmyheartIcouldcomfortyou!“

“Thankyou，MissSilvester。Itwasnotaverypleasantfeeling，tobehidingfromBlancheasifIwasafraidofher——andit’ssetmethinking，Isuppose，forthefirsttimeinmylife。Nevermind。It’sallovernow。CanIdoanythingforyou？“

“Whatdoyouproposedoingto-night？“

“WhatIhaveproposeddoingallalong——myd