第54章

“Ican’tgoback，“shesaid。“Theinnisnoplaceforme。Acurseseemstofollowme，Blanche，whereverIgo。Iamthecauseofquarrelingandwretchedness，withoutmeaningit，Godknows。Theoldmanwhoishead-waiterattheinnhasbeenkindtome，mydear，inhisway，andheandthelandladyhadhardwordstogetheraboutit。Aquarrel，ashocking，violentquarrel。Hehaslosthisplaceinconsequence。Thewoman，hismistress，laysalltheblameofittomydoor。Sheisahardwoman；andshehasbeenharderthaneversinceBishopriggswentaway。Ihavemissedaletterattheinn——Imusthavethrownitaside，Isuppose，andforgottenit。IonlyknowthatIrememberedaboutit，andcouldn’tfinditlastnight。Itoldthelandlady，andshefastenedaquarrelonmealmostbeforethewordswereoutofmymouth。AskedmeifI

chargedherwithstealingmyletter。Saidthingstome——Ican’trepeatthem。Iamnotverywell，andnotabletodealwithpeopleofthatsort。IthoughtitbesttoleaveCraigFerniethismorning。IhopeandprayIshallneverseeCraigFernieagain。“

Shetoldherlittlestorywithatotalabsenceofemotionofanysort，andlaidherheadbackwearilyonthechairwhenitwasdone。

Blanche’seyesfilledwithtearsatthesightofher。

“Iwon’tteaseyouwithquestions，Anne，“shesaid，gently。“Comeupstairsandrestinmyroom。You’renotfittotravel，love。

I’lltakecarethatnobodycomesnearus。“

Thestable-clockatWindygatesstruckthequartertotwo。Anneraisedherselfinthechairwithastart。

“Whattimewasthat？“sheasked。

Blanchetoldher。

“Ican’tstay，“shesaid。“IhavecomeheretofindsomethingoutifIcan。Youwon’taskmequestions？Don’t，Blanche，don’t!forthesakeofoldtimes。“

Blancheturnedaside，heart-sick。“Iwilldonothing，dear，toannoyyou，“shesaid，andtookAnne’shand，andhidthetearsthatwerebeginningtofalloverhercheeks。

“Iwanttoknowsomething，Blanche。Willyoutellme？“

“Yes。Whatisit？“

“Whoarethegentlemenstayinginthehouse？“

Blanchelookedroundatheragain，insuddenastonishmentandalarm。AvaguefearseizedherthatAnne’smindhadgivenwayundertheheavyweightoftroublelaidonit。Annepersistedinpressingherstrangerequest。

“Runovertheirnames，Blanche。Ihaveareasonforwishingtoknowwhothegentlemenarewhoarestayinginthehouse。“

BlancherepeatedthenamesofLadyLundie’sguests，leavingtothelasttheguestswhohadarrivedlast。

“Twomorecamebackthismorning，“shewenton。“ArnoldBrinkworthandthathatefulfriendofhis，Mr。Delamayn。“

Anne’sheadsankbackoncemoreonthechair。Shehadfoundherwaywithoutexcitingsuspicionofthetruth，totheonediscoverywhichshehadcometoWindygatestomake。HewasinScotlandagain，andhehadonlyarrivedfromLondonthatmorning。TherewasbarelytimeforhimtohavecommunicatedwithCraigFerniebeforeshelefttheinn——he，too，whohatedletter-writing!Thecircumstanceswereallinhisfavor：therewasnor