第55章

Thecookhadacceptedthealternativewhichhermistress’smessagehadplacedbeforeher，ifsheinsistedonhavingherowntimeatherownsoledisposalfortherestofthatday。ExactlyasLadyLundiehaddesired，sheintimatedherresolutiontocarryherpointbyplacingheraccount-bookonthedeskinthelibrary。

ItwasonlywhenthishadbeendonethatBlanchereceivedanyanswertoherentreatiesforhelp。SlowlyanddeliberatelyHesterDethridgewalkeduptothespotwheretheyounggirlkneltwithAnne’sheadonherbosom，andlookedatthetwowithoutatraceofhumanemotioninhersternandstonyface。

“Don’tyouseewhat’shappened？“criedBlanche。“Areyoualiveordead？Oh，Hester，Ican’tbringherto!Lookather!lookather!“

HesterDethridgelookedather，andshookherhead。Lookedagain，thoughtforawhileandwroteonherslate。HeldouttheslateoverAnne’sbody，andshowedwhatshehadwritten：

“Whohasdoneit？“

“Youstupidcreature!“saidBlanche。“Nobodyhasdoneit。“

TheeyesofHesterDethridgesteadilyreadthewornwhiteface，tellingitsowntaleofsorrowmutelyonBlanche’sbreast。ThemindofHesterDethridgesteadilylookedbackatherownknowledgeofherownmiserablemarriedlife。Sheagainreturnedtowritingonherslate——againshowedthewrittenwordstoBlanche。

“Broughttoitbyaman。Letherbe——andGodwilltakeher。“

“Youhorridunfeelingwoman!howdareyouwritesuchanabominablething!“Withthisnaturaloutburstofindignation，BlanchelookedbackatAnne；and，dauntedbythedeath-likepersistencyoftheswoon，appealedagaintothemercyoftheimmovablewomanwhowaslookingdownather。“Oh，Hester!forHeaven’ssakehelpme!“

Thecookdroppedherslateatherside。andbentherheadgravelyinsignthatshesubmitted。ShemotionedtoBlanchetoloosenAnne’sdress，andthen——kneelingononeknee——tookAnnetosupportherwhileitwasbeingdone。

TheinstantHesterDethridgetouchedher，theswooningwomangavesignsoflife。

Afaintshudderranthroughherfromheadtofoot——hereyelidstrembled——halfopenedforamoment——andclosedagain。Astheyclosed，alowsighflutteredfeeblyfromherlips。

HesterDethridgeputherbackinBlanche’sarms——consideredalittlewithherself——returnedtowritingonherslate——andheldoutthewrittenwordsoncemore：

“Shivered