The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-23
THE WOMAN IN WHITE


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large nsh-pond.
AS we passed the Count on the steps.
he bowed and smiled, aud then went az
once into the house. pushing the hall
door To after him, but not actually clos
ing il.
The countess walked me gently round
the fish pond | expected 10 be made
the depository Of some extraordinary con-
fdence: and | was astonished to find
that Mime. Fosco's communication for
my private car was nothing more than
a polite assurance OF her sympathy for
me- after what had happened In the
library.
Her husband had told her OF all that
had passed and Of the insolent manner
in which Sir Perc.val had spoken 10 me.
This information had so shocked and dis
tressed her. on my account and on
Laura = that she had made up her mind.
IL anything Of the sort happened again,
TO mark her sense OF Sir Percivals out
rageous conduct by leaving the house.
The Count had approved Of her idea, and
she now hoped that I approved OF It too.
/ thought this a very strange proceed
ing on the part OF such a remarkably
reserved woman as Nine. Fosco-espec-
ALLY after the interchange OF sharp
speeches which had passed between us
during the conversation in the boathouse
on that very morning. However, IL was
nv plain duty 10 meet "A polite and
friendly advance. on the part OF one OF
my elders. with a polite and friendly re-
ply | answered the Countess. accord.
ingly i'm her own tone; and then, think.
ing that we had said all that was nee.
essary on either side. made an attempt
20 get back 10 the house.
But Nine Fosco seemed resolved not
TO part with me- and. to my unspeakable
amazement resolved also 10 talk. Lther-
TO the most silent OF women, she now
prosecuted me with fluent convention
alities on the subject OF married life. on
the subject OF Sir Percival and Laura,
on the subject OF her own happiness. on
the subject OF the late Mr.. Fairlie's con-
duct 10 her in the matter of her legacy.
and one half dozen other subjects be-
Sides. until she had detained me walking
round and round the fish-pond for more
than half an hour. and had quite wearled
me out Whether she discovered this
or not I can not say. but she stopped
as abruptly as she had begun--looked to-
ward the house door, resumed her Icy
manner IN a moment and dropped my
OF her own accord. before I could think
OF an excuse for accomplishing my own
release from her
As I pushed open the door and entered
the hall found myself suddenly face
to face with the Count again He was
Just putting a letter into the post-bag.
After he had dropped il I'm. and had
closed the bag he asked me where ] had
left Nine Fosco. I told him, and fe
went out at the hall door Immediately,
TO Join his wife His manner, when he
spoke to me- was 40 unusually quiet and
subdued that | turned and looked after
him. wondering II he were III or out of
spirits
Why my next proceeding was TO go
straight TO the postbag, and take out
my own letter, and look at IL again, with
vague distrust on me; and why the
, looking al It for the second time instant
| ly suggested the idea TO my mind OF
| sealing the envelope for it's greater secur-
/ itv-are mysteries which are either too
! deep or TOO shallow for me to fathom.
Women. as everybody knows, constantly
act on impulses which they can not ex-
plain even To themselves and ! can only
suppose that one OF those impulses was
the hidden cause OF my unaccountaole
conduct on this occasion.
Whatever influence animated me. ]
found cause 10 congratulate myself on
having obeyed IL as soon as ! prepared
TO seal the letter In my own room.
had originally closed the envelope I'm the
usual way by moistening the adhesive
point and pressing II on the paper be-
meath. and when | now tried III with my
fingers. after lapse OF full three quar-
tera OF an hour. the envelope opened on
the instant without sticking or tearing.
Perhaps I had fastened II insufficienty :?
Perhaps there might have been some de-
feet in the adhesive gum?
or. perhaps no. IL is quite revolving
enough 10 feel that third conjector stir
ring I'm my mind | would rather not
SEQ IT confronting me, in plain black and
white.
| almost dread tomorrow-so much de-
pends on my discretion and self-controL
There are two precautions. at all events,
which | am sure not to forget. | must
he careful to keep up friendly appear
ances with the Count: and ! must be well
on my guard when the messenger from
the office comes here with the answer
| to my letter.