第118章

Geoffreyspoke——oncemore，withmarkeddeliberationandconstraint；oncemore，withtheairofrepeatingsomethingwhichhadbeenpreparedbeforehand。HepointedtoAnne。

“Thiswomanismywife，“hesaid。“Inthepresenceofyouthree，aswitnesses，ItellherthatIdon’tforgiveher。Ihavebroughtherhere——havingnootherplaceinwhichIcantrusthertobe——towaittheissueofproceedings，undertakenindefenseofmyownhonorandgoodname。Whileshestayshere，shewillliveseparatefromme，inaroomofherown。Ifitisnecessaryformetocommunicatewithher，Ishallonlyseeherinthepresenceofathirdperson。Doyouallunderstandme？“

HesterDethridgebowedherhead。Theothertwoanswered，“Yes“——andturnedtogoout。

Annerose。AtasignfromGeoffrey，theservantandtheladwaitedintheroomtohearwhatshehadtosay。

“Iknownothinginmyconduct，“shesaid，addressingherselftoGeoffrey，“whichjustifiesyouintellingthesepeoplethatyoudon’tforgiveme。Thosewordsappliedbyyoutomeareaninsult。

Iamequallyignorantofwhatyoumeanwhenyouspeakofdefendingyourgoodname。AllIunderstandis，thatweareseparatepersonsinthishouse，andthatIamtohavearoomofmyown。Iamgrateful，whateveryourmotivesmaybe，forthearrangementthatyouhaveproposed。Directoneofthesetwowomentoshowmemyroom。“

GeoffreyturnedtoHesterDethridge。

“Takeherupstairs，“hesaid；“andletherpickwhichroomshepleases。Giveherwhatshewantstoeatordrink。Bringdowntheaddressoftheplacewhereherluggageis。Theladherewillgobackbyrailway，andfetchit。That’sall。Beoff。“

Hesterwentout。Annefollowedherupthestairs。Inthepassageontheupperfloorshestopped。Thedulllightflickeredagainforamomentinhereyes。Shewroteonherslate，andheldituptoAnne，withthesewordsonit：“Iknewyouwouldcomeback。

It’snotoveryetbetweenyouandhim。“Annemadenoreply。Shewentonwriting，withsomethingfaintlylikeasmileonherthin，colorlesslips。“Iknowsomethingofbadhusbands。Yoursisasbadaoneaseverstoodinshoes。He’lltryyou。“Annemadeanefforttostopher。“Don’tyouseehowtiredIam？“shesaid，gently。HesterDethridgedroppedtheslate——lookedwithasteadyanduncompassionateattentioninAnne’sface——noddedherhead，asmuchastosay，“Iseeitnow“——andledthewayintooneoftheemptyrooms。

Itwasthefrontbedroom，overthedrawing-room。Thefirstglanceroundshowedittobescrupulouslyclean，andsolidlyandtastelesslyfurnished。Thehideouspaperonthewalls，thehideouscarpetonthefloor，werebothofthebestquality。Thegreatheavymahoganybedstead，withitscurtainshangingfromahookintheceiling，andwithitsclumsilycarvedheadandfootonthesamelevel，offeredtotheviewtheanomalousspectacleofFrenchdesignoverwhelmedbyEnglishexecution。Themostnoticeablethingintheroomwastheextraordinaryattentionwhichhadbeengiventothedefenseofthedoor。Besidestheusuallockandkey，itpossessedtwosolidbolts，fasteninginsideatthetopandthebottom。IthadbeenoneamongthemanyeccentricsidesofReubenLimbrick’scharactertoliveinperpetualdreadofthievesbreakingintohiscottageatnight。

Alltheouterdoorsandallthewindowshuttersweresolidlysheathedwith