The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-03
THE WOMAN IN WHITE
(continued.)

S"e'bvii' WOulu IL De possible 10 place
Sir Percival between the two alternatives
OF either exposing himself 10 the scandal
of legal interference on his wtfe's behalf,
or OF allowing her to be quietly separated
rom him for time. under pretext of q
visit to her uncle's house? And could
10 accept the last resource? IL was
doubtful--more than doubtful. And yet.
hopeless as the experiment seemed. surely
II was worth trying? resolved TO try
II. In sheer despair of knowing what
better to do.
Your uncle shall know the wish you
have Just expressed" I said: "and I will
ask the lawyers advice on the subject. as
we'll. Good may come of it-and will
come OF II. l hope"
Saying that. rose again and again
Laura tried 10 make me resume my seat
Don't leave me-" she said, uneasily.
my desk Is on that table. You can
write here"
II tried me to the quick TO refuse her.
even In her own interests But we had
been too long shut up alone together al
ready. Our chance OF seeing each other
again might entirely depend on our not
exciting any fresh suspicious, II was
full time TO show myself, quietly and un-
concernediy. among the wretches who
were at that very moment. perhaps.
thinking OF US and talking OF us down
stairs. l explained the miserable neces-
sity TO Laura and prevailed on her to
recognize II. as did.
II will come back again. love, In an
hour or less" said. The worst Is
over for today. Keep yourself quiet. and
fear nothing"
us the key in the door. Marian7 Can
j lock IL on The inside?"
Yes hare a the key I.orL fha hnor
and open II t. nobody until I come up
stairs again"
kissed her. and left her II was a
relief 10 me. as / walked away 10 hear
the key turned In the lock- and TO know
that the door was at her own command
VIII
Junt isth.--I had only got as far as
the top OF the stairs when the locking
of Lsura's door suggested to me the pre-
caution OF also locking my own door
and keeping the key safely about me
while was out Of the room. Ny Journal
was already secured. with other papers.
In the table drawer. but my writing ma
terials were left out. These included q
seal. bearing the common device OF two
doves drinking out OF the same cup. and
some sheets of blotting paper, which had
the impression on them OF the closing
lines Of my writing in these pages, traced
during the past night. Distorted by the
suspicion which had now become part
OF myself, even such trines as these
looked too dangerous to be trusted with
out guard-even the locked table drawer
seemed to be not sufficiently protected.
In my absence. until the means OF access
to II had been carefully secured as we'll
found no appearace OF any one having
entered the room while had been talking
with Laura. My writing materials
fns1 tah II haA -.
tions never TO meddle With were scat
tered over the table much as usual The
only circumstance in connection with
them that at all struck me was that the
seal lay tidily In the tray with the pencils
and the wax IL was not in my care
less habits 0 am sorry TO say) to put IL !
there: neither did I remember putting IL |
there. But. as could not call 10 mind. |
on the other hand, where else I had !
thrown II down. and az was also doubt |
ful whether j might not. for once. have !
laid 1t mechanically in the right place. I |
abstained from adding TO the perplexity /
with which the days events had filled my |
mind by troubling 1t afresh about a |
trif1e. I locked the door. put the key in |
my pocket and went down stairs.
Nine. Fosco was alone in the hall look I
Ing at the weather glass.
"Still falling. she said. II am afraid 1
We must expect more rain"
Her face was composed again 10 its
customary expression and its customary
color. But the hand with which she
pointed 10 the dial OF the weather glass
stlll trembled.
Could she have told her husband al
ready that she had overheard Laura re-
Wiling him. In my company, as SPY"
My strong suspicion that she must have
told him; my irresistible dread tall the
more overpowering from its very vague
1ess) OF the consequences which might
'ollow: my fixed conviction, derived from
sarlous little self betrayals which women /
,otice In each other, that Nine Fosco.
n spite OF her well assumed external
.ivility, had not forgiven her niece for In
recently standing between her and the
egacy OF ten thousand pounds--all rushed
ipon my mind together all impelled me
% speak In the vain hope OF using my
,wn influence and my own powers OF per-
'uaslor for the atonement OF Laura's
'ffence.
May I trust your kindness to excuse
nc, Madame Fosco, II ! venture 10 speak
o YOU on an exceedingly painful sub
ect?'
She crossed he hands In front OF her.
md bowed her head solemnly. without
Ittering a word, and without taking her
yes Off mine for a moment.
when you were so good as To bring
ne back my handkerchief" ] went on.
7 am very much afraid you must have
accidentally heard Laura say something
which / am unwilling to repeat. and
which will not attempt TO defend will
My venture To hope that you have not
hought IL OF sufficient Importance to be I
mentioned to the COUNT" ,
II think II OF no Importance whatever"
aid Nine Fosco, sharply and suddenly. ,
But" she added, resumins her icy man ,
er I'm a moment II have no secrets from !
nv husband. even trihes. When he no.
Iced. just now that ] looked distressed,
was my painful duty To tell him why ,
was distressed: and frankly acknowl-
dge TO you. Miss Halcombe. that I have ,
old him"
] was prepared 10 hear IL. and vet she ,
irned me cold all over when she said |,
hose words
Let me earnestly entreat you. Madame
'osco-iet mo earnestly entreat the .
ount--to make some allowances for the I
nd position In which my sister IL placed.
he spoke while she was smarting under J
Ne insult and injustice inflicted on her =
y her husband. and she was not herself =
hen she said these rash words Nav I