“Ican’tgoback，“shesaid。“Theinnisnoplaceforme。Acurseseemstofollowme，Blanche，whereverIgo。Iamthecauseofquarrelingandwretchedness，withoutmeaningit，Godknows。Theoldmanwhoishead-waiterattheinnhasbeenkindtome，mydear，inhisway，andheandthelandladyhadhardwordstogetheraboutit。Aquarrel，ashocking，violentquarrel。Hehaslosthisplaceinconsequence。Thewoman，hismistress，laysalltheblameofittomydoor。Sheisahardwoman；andshehasbeenharderthaneversinceBishopriggswentaway。Ihavemissedaletterattheinn——Imusthavethrownitaside，Isuppose，andforgottenit。IonlyknowthatIrememberedaboutit，andcouldn’tfinditlastnight。Itoldthelandlady，andshefastenedaquarrelonmealmostbeforethewordswereoutofmymouth。AskedmeifI
chargedherwithstealingmyletter。Saidthingstome——Ican’trepeatthem。Iamnotverywell，andnotabletodealwithpeopleofthatsort。IthoughtitbesttoleaveCraigFerniethismorning。IhopeandprayIshallneverseeCraigFernieagain。“
Shetoldherlittlestorywithatotalabsenceofemotionofanysort，andlaidherheadbackwearilyonthechairwhenitwasdone。
Blanche’seyesfilledwithtearsatthesightofher。
“Iwon’tteaseyouwithquestions，Anne，“shesaid，gently。“Comeupstairsandrestinmyroom。You’renotfittotravel，love。