第128章

Itwasnowlateintheafternoon，andshehadbeenoutsincetheearlymorning。Thishadneverhappenedbefore。Vaguesuspicionsofher，onemoremonstrousthananother，begantoriseinGeoffrey’smind。Betweenthedrinkandthefever，hehadbeen(asJuliushadtoldhim)wanderinginhismindduringapartofthenight。Hadheletanythingoutinthatcondition？HadHesterheardit？Andwasit，byanychance，atthebottomofherlongabsenceandhernoticetoquit？Hedetermined——withoutlettingherseethathesuspectedher——toclearupthatdoubtassoonashislandladyreturnedtothehouse。

Theeveningcame。Itwaspastnineo’clockbeforetherewasaringatthebell。Theservantcametoaskforthekey。Geoffreyrosetogotothegatehimself——andchangedhismindbeforehelefttheroom。_Her_suspicionsmightberoused(supposingittobeHesterwhowaswaitingforadmission)ifheopenedthegatetoherwhentheservantwastheretodoit。Hegavethegirlthekey，andkeptoutofsight。

“Deadtired!“——theservantsaidtoherself，seeinghermistressbythelightofthelampoverthegate。

“Deadtired!“——Geoffreysaidtohimself，observingHestersuspiciouslyasshepassedhiminthepassageonherwayupstairstotakeoffherbonnetinherownroom。

“Deadtired!“——Annesaidtoherself，meetingHesterontheupperfloor，andreceivingfromheraletterinBlanche’shandwriting，deliveredtothemistressofthecottagebythepostman，whohadmetheratherowngate。

HavinggiventhelettertoAnne，HesterDethridgewithdrewtoherbedroom。

Geoffreyclosedthedoorofthedrawing-room，inwhichthecandleswereburning，andwentintothedining-room，inwhichtherewasnolight。Leavingthedoorajar，hewaitedtointercepthislandladyonherwaybacktohersupperinthekitchen。

Hesterwearilysecuredherdoor，wearilylitthecandles，wearilyputthepenandinkonthetable。Forsomeminutesafterthisshewascompelledtositdown，andrallyherstrengthandfetchherbreath。Afteralittleshewasabletoremoveherupperclothing。

Thisdoneshetookthemanuscriptinscribed，“MyConfession，“outofthesecretpocketofherstays——turnedtothelastleafasbefore——andwroteanotherentry，undertheentrymadeonthepreviousnight。

“ThismorningIgavehimnoticetoquit，andofferedhimhismoneybackifhewantedit。Herefusestogo。Heshallgoto-morrow，orIwillburntheplaceoverhishead。Allthroughto-dayIhaveavoidedhimbykeepingoutofthehouse。Noresttoeasemymind，andnosleeptoclosemyeyes。Ihumblybearmycrossaslongasmystrengthwillletme。“

Atthosewordsthependroppedfromherfingers。Herheadnoddedonherbreast。Sherousedherselfwithastart。Sleepwastheenemyshedreaded：sleepbroughtdreams。

Sheunfastenedthewindow-shuttersandlookedoutatthenight。

Thepeacefulmoonlightwasshiningoverthegarden。Thecleardepthsofthenightskyweresoothingandbeautifultolookat。

What!Fadingalready？clouds？darkness？No!Nearlyasleeponcemore。Sherousedherselfagain，withastart。Therewasthemoonlight，andtherewasthegardenasbrightunderitasever。

Dreamsornodreams，itwasuselesstofightlongeragainstthewearinessthatoverpoweredher。Sheclosedtheshutters，andwentbacktothebed；andputherConfessioninitscustomaryplaceatnight，underherpillow。

Shelookedround