第136章

“Ifaman’sownconsciencejustifieshim，Mr。Delamayn，“saidSirPatrick，“theopinionsofothersareofverylittleimportance。

Myerrandhereisperformed。“

AsheturnedtobidAnnefarewell，theuneasinessthathefeltatleavingherforceditswaytoview。Thecolorfadedoutofhisface。Hishandtrembledasitclosedtenderlyandfirmlyonhers。

“Ishallseeyouto-morrow，atHolchesterHouse，“hesaid；givinghisarmwhilehespoketoBlanche。HetookleaveofGeoffrey，withoutlookingathimagain，andwithoutseeinghisofferedhand。Inanotherminutetheyweregone。

AnnewaitedonthelowerfloorofthecottagewhileGeoffreyclosedandlockedthegate。Shehadnowishtoappeartoavoidhim，aftertheanswerthathehadsenttohismother’smessage。

Hereturnedslowlyhalf-wayacrossthefrontgarden，lookedtowardthepassageinwhichshewasstanding，passedbeforethedoor，anddisappearedroundthecornerofthecottageonhiswaytothebackgarden。Theinferencewasnottobemistaken。ItwasGeoffreywhowasavoiding_her。_HadheliedtoSirPatrick？WhenthenextdaycamewouldhefindreasonsofhisownforrefusingtotakehertoHolchesterHouse？

Shewentupstairs。AtthesamemomentHesterDethridgeopenedherbedroomdoortocomeout。ObservingAnne，shecloseditagainandremainedinvisibleinherroom。Oncemoretheinferencewasnottobemistaken。HesterDethridge，also，hadherreasonsforavoidingAnne。

Whatdiditmean？WhatobjectcouldtherebeincommonbetweenHesterandGeoffrey？

Therewasnofathomingthemeaningofit。Anne’sthoughtsrevertedtothecommunicationwhichhadbeensecretlymadetoherbyBlanche。ItwasnotinwomanhoodtobeinsensibletosuchdevotionasSirPatrick’sconductimplied。Terribleasherpositionhadbecomeinitsever-growinguncertainty，initsnever-endingsuspense，theoppressionofityieldedforthemomenttotheglowofprideandgratitudewhichwarmedherheart，asshethoughtofthesacrificesthathadbeenmade，oftheperilsthatwerestilltobeencountered，solelyforhersake。ToshortentheperiodofsuspenseseemedtobeadutywhichsheowedtoSirPatrick，aswellastoherself。Why，inhersituation，waitforwhatthenextdaymightbringforth？Iftheopportunityoffered，shedeterminedtoputthesignalinthewindowthatnight。

Towardeveningsheheardoncemorethenoiseswhichappearedtoindicatethatrepairsofsomesortweregoingoninthehouse。

Thistimethesoundswerefainter；andtheycame，asshefancied，notfromthespareroom，asbefore，butfromGeoffrey’sroom，nexttoit。

Thedinnerwaslaterthanusualthatday。HesterDethridgedidnotappearwiththetraytilldusk。Annespoketoher，andreceivedamutesigninanswer。Determinedtoseethewoman’sfaceplainly，sheputaquestionwhichrequiredawrittenanswerontheslate；and，tellingHestertowait，wenttothemantle-piecetolighthercandle。Whensheturnedroundwiththelightedcandleinherhand，Hesterwasgone。

Nightcame。Sherangherbelltohavethetraytakenaway。Thefallofastrangefootstepstartledheroutsideherdoor。Shecalledout，“Who’sthere？“ThevoiceoftheladwhomGeoffreyemployedtogoonerrandsforhimansweredher。

“Whatdoyouwanthere？“sheasked，throughthedoor。

“Mr。Delamaynsentmeup，ma’am。Hewishestospeaktoyo