AtthosewordsAnnesuddenlyshookoffthedepressionthatweighedonher。ShecaughtBlancheinherarms，sheheldBlanchetoherbosomwithafierceenergy。“Willyoualwaysbetome，inthefuture，whatyouarenow？“sheasked，abruptly。“Oristhetimecomingwhenyouwillhateme？“Shepreventedanyreplybyakiss——andpushedBlanchetowardthedoor。“Wehavehadahappytimetogetherintheyearsthataregone，“shesaid，withafarewellwaveofherhand。“ThankGodforthat!Andnevermindtherest。“
Shethrewopenthebedroomdoor，andcalledtothemaid，inthesitting-room。“MissLundieiswaitingforyou。“Blanchepressedherhand，andlefther。
Annewaitedawhileinthebedroom，listeningtothesoundmadebythedepartureofthecarriagefromtheinndoor。Littlebylittle，thetrampofthehorsesandthenoiseoftherollingwheelslessenedandlessened。Whenthelastfaintsoundswerelostinsilenceshestoodforamomentthinking——then，rousingonasudden，hurriedintothesitting-room，andrangthebell。
“Ishallgomad，“shesaidtoherself，“ifIstayherealone。“
EvenMr。Bishopriggsfeltthenecessityofbeingsilentwhenhestoodfacetofacewithheronansweringthebell。