X
SECRET INSTRUCTIONS
For a moment William and myself stood looking at each other over thisfrail and prostrate figure. Then he stooped, and with an unexpected showof kindness raised her up and began carrying her toward the house.
"Lucetta is a fool," he cried suddenly, stopping and giving me a quickglance over his shoulder. "Because folks are terrified of this road andcome to see us but seldom, she has got to feel a most unreasonable dreadof visitors. She was even set against your coming till we showed herwhat folly it was for her to think we could always live here likehermits. Then she doesn't like Mr. Trohm; thinks he is altogether toofriendly to me--as if that was any of her business. Am I an idiot? HaveI no sense? Cannot I be trusted to take care of my own affairs and keepmy own secrets? She's a weak, silly chit, to go and flop over like thiswhen, d--n it, we have enough to look after without nursing her upand--I mean," he said, tripping himself up with an air of politeconsideration so out of keeping with his usual churlishness as to bemore than noticeable, "that it cannot add much to the pleasure of yourvisit to have such things happen as this."
"Oh, don't worry about me!" I curtly responded. "Get the poor girl in.I'll look after her."
But as if she heard these words and was startled by them, Lucetta rousedin her brother's arms and struggled passionately to her feet. "Oh! whathas happened to me?" she cried. "Have I said anything? William, have Isaid anything?" she asked wildly, clinging to her brother in terror.
He gave her a look and pushed her off.
"What are you talking about?" he cried. "One would think you hadsomething to conceal."
She steadied herself up in an instant.
"I am the weakest of the family," said she, walking straight up to meand taking me affectionately by the arm. "All my life I have beendelicate and these turns are nothing new to me. Sometimes I think I willdie in one of them; but I am quite restored now," she hastily added, asI could not help showing my concern. "See! I can walk quite alone." Andshe ran, rather than walked, up the few short steps of the porch, atwhich we had now arrived. "Don't tell Loreen," she begged, as I followedher into the house. "She worries so about me, and it will do no good."
William had stalked off toward the stables. We were therefore alone. Iturned and laid a finger on her arm.
"My dear," said I, "I never make foolish promises, but I can be trustednever to heedlessly slight any one's wishes. If I see no good reason whyI should tell your sister of this fainting fit, I shall certainly holdmy peace."
She seemed moved by my manner, if not by my words.
"Oh," she cried, seizing my hand and pressing it. "If I dared to tellyou of my troubles! But it is impossible, quite impossible." And beforeI could urge a plea for her confidence she was gone, leaving me in thecompany of Hannah, who at this moment was busying herself with somethingat the other end of the hall.
I had no wish to interfere with Hannah just then. I had my letter toread, and did not wish to be disturbed. So I slipped into thesitting-room and carefully closed the door. Then I opened my letter.
It was, as I supposed, from Mr. Gryce, and ran thus:
"DEAR MISS BUTTERWORTH:
"I am astonished at your determination, but since your desire to visit your friends is such as to lead you to brave the dangers of Lost Man's Lane, allow me to suggest certain precautions.
"First.--Do not trust anybody.
"Second.--Do not proceed anywhere alone or on foot.
"Third.--If danger comes to you, and you find yourself in a condition of real peril, blow once shrilly on the whistle I inclose with this. If, however, the danger is slight, or you wish merely to call the attention of those who will be set to watch over you, let the blast be short, sharp, and repeated--twice to summon assistance, three times to call attention.
"I advise you to fasten this whistle about your neck in a way to make it easily obtainable.
"I have advised you to trust nobody. I should have excepted Mr. Trohm, but I do not think you will be given an opportunity to speak to him. Remember that all depends upon your not awakening suspicion. If, however, you wish advice or desire to make any communication to me or the man secretly holding charge over this affair in X., seek the first opportunity of riding into town and go at once to the hotel where you will ask for Room 3. It has been retained in your service, and once shown into it, you, may expect a visitor who will be the man you seek.
"As you will see, every confidence is put in your judgment."
There was no signature to this--it needed none--and in the packet whichcame with it was the whistle. I was glad to see it, and glad to hearthat I was not left entirely without protection in my somewhat hazardousenterprise.
The events of the morning had been so unexpected that till this moment Ihad forgotten my early determination to go to my room before any changethere could be made. Recalling it now, I started for the staircase, anddid not stop though I heard Hannah calling me back. The consequence wasthat I ran full tilt against Miss Knollys coming down the hall with atray in her hand.
"Ah," I cried; "some one sick in the house?"
The attack was too sudden. I saw her recoil and for one instant hesitatebefore replying. Then her natural self-possession came to her aid, andshe placidly remarked:
"We were all up to a late hour last night, as you know. It was necessaryfor us to have some food."
I accepted the explanation and made no further remark, but as in passingher I had detected on this tray of food supposed to have been sent upthe night before, the half-eaten portion of a certain dish we had hadfor breakfast, I reserved to myself the privilege of doubting her exacttruthfulness. To me the sight of this partially consumed breakfast wasproof positive of there being in the house some person of whose presenceI was supposed to be ignorant--not a pleasant thought under thecircumstances, but quite an important fact to have established. I feltthat in this one discovery I had clutched the thread that would yet leadme out of the labyrinth of this mystery.
Miss Knollys, who was on her way down-stairs, called Hannah to take thetray, and, coming back, beckoned me toward a door opening into one ofthe front rooms.
"This is to be your room," she announced, "but I do not know that I canmove you to-day."
She was so calm, so perfectly mistress of herself, that I could not butadmire her. Lucetta would have flushed and fidgeted, but Loreen stood aserect and placid as if no trouble weighed upon her heart and the wordswere as unimportant in their character as they seemed.
"Do not distress yourself," said I. "I told Lucetta last night that Iwas perfectly comfortable and had no wish to change my quarters. I amsorry you should have thought it necessary to disturb yourself on myaccount last night. Don't do it again, I pray. A woman like myself hadrather put herself to some slight inconvenience than move.
"I am much obliged to you," said she, and came at once from the door. Idon't know but after all I like Lucetta's fidgety ways better thanLoreen's unmovable self-possession.
"Shall I order the coach for you?" she suddenly asked, as I turnedtoward the corridor leading to my room.
"The coach?" I repeated.
"I thought that perhaps you might like to ride into town. Mr. Simsburyis at leisure this morning. I regret that neither Lucetta nor myselfwill be able to accompany you."
I thought what this same Mr. Simsbury had said about Lucetta's plan, andhesitated. It was evidently their wish to have me spend my morningelsewhere than with them. Should I humor them, or find excuses forremaining home? Either course had its difficulties. If I went, whatmight not take place in my absence! If I remained, what suspicions mightI not rouse! I decided to compromise matters, and start for town even ifI did not go there.
"I am hesitating," said I, "because of the two or three ratherthreatening-looking clouds toward the east. But if you are sure Mr.Simsbury can be spared, I think I will risk it. I really would like toget a key for my d
oor; and then riding in the country is so pleasant."
Miss Knollys, with a bow, passed immediately down-stairs. I went in astate of some doubt toward my own room. "Am I surveying theseoccurrences through highly magnifying glasses?" thought I. It was verypossible, yet not so possible but that I cast very curious glances atthe various closed doors I had to pass before reaching my own. Such alittle thing would make me feel like trying them. Such a littlething--that is, added to the other things which had struck me asunexplainable.
I found my bed made and everything in apple-pie order. I had thereforenothing to do but to prepare for going out. This I did quickly, and wasdown-stairs sooner perhaps than I was expected. At all events Lucettaand William parted very suddenly when they saw me, she in tears and hewith a dogged shrug and some such word as this:
"You're a fool to take on so. Since it's got to be, the sooner thebetter, I say. Don't you see that every minute makes less our chances ofconcealment?"
It made me feel like changing my mind and staying home. But the habit ofa lifetime is not easily broken into. I kept to my first decision.