"
"Nothing has come of it!"
"Indeed?"
"Absolutely nothing! I know she received the letter yesterday morning. I
ought to have had the answer to-day at breakfast."
"Perhaps she thought it didn't require an answer."
"She couldn't have thought that, for reasons that I know of. Besides, in
my letter yesterday I implored her to tell me (if it was one line only)
whether, in guessing at what her trouble was, Sir Patrick and I had not
guessed right. And here is the day getting on, and no answer! What am I
to conclude?"
"I really can't say!"
"Is it possible, Arnold, that we have _not_ guessed right, after all?
Is the wickedness of that man who blew the candles out wickedness beyond
our discovering? The doubt is so dreadful that I have made up my mind
not to bear it after to-day. I count on your sympathy and assistance
when to-morrow comes!"
Arnold's heart sank. Some new complication was evidently gathering round
him. He waited in silence to hear the worst. Blanche bent forward, and
whispered to him.
"This is a secret," she said. "If that creature at the writing-table has
ears for any thing but rowing and racing, he mustn't hear this! Anne
may come to me privately to-day while you are all at luncheon.
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