TheladappearedinthefrontgardendepartingtoperformhiserrandtoLondon。Geoffreywentwithhimtoopenthegate，andcalledafterhim，ashepassedthroughit，“Don’tforgetthebooks!“
The“books？“What“books？“Whowantedthem？TheslightestthingnowrousedAnne’ssuspicion。Forhoursafterwardthebookshauntedhermind。
Hesecuredthegateandcamebackagain。HestoppedunderAnne’swindowandcalledtoher。Sheshowedherself。“Whenyouwantairandexercise，“hesaid，“thebackgardenisatyourowndisposal。“Heputthekeyofthegateinhispocketandreturnedtothehouse。
AftersomehesitationAnnedecidedontakinghimathisword。Inherstateofsuspense，toremainwithinthefourwallsofthebedroomwasunendurable。Ifsomelurkingsnarelayhidunderthefair-soundingproposalwhichGeoffreyhadmade，itwaslessrepellenttoherboldlytoprovewhatitmightbethantowaitponderingoveritwithhermindinthedark。Sheputonherhatandwentdownintothegarden。Nothinghappenedoutofthecommon。Whereverhewashenevershowedhimself。Shewanderedupanddown，keepingonthesideofthegardenwhichwasfarthestfromthedining-roomwindow。Toawoman，escapefromtheplacewassimplyimpossible。Settingoutofthequestiontheheightofthewalls，theywerearmedatthetopwithathicksettingofjaggedbrokenglass。Asmallback-doorintheendwallintendedprobablyforthegardener’susewasboltedandlocked——thekeyhavingbeentakenout。Therewasnotahousenear。Thelandsofthelocalgrowersofvegetablessurroundedthegardenonallsides。Inthenineteenthcentury，andintheimmediateneighborhoodofagreatmetropolis，Annewasasabsolutelyisolatedfromallcontactwiththehumanityaroundherasifshelayinhergrave。
Afterthelapseofhalfanhourthesilencewasbrokenbyanoiseofcarriagewheelsonthepublicroadinfront，andaringatthebell。Annekeptclosetothecottage，attheback；determined，ifachanceoffered，onspeakingtothevisitor，whoeverthevisitormightbe。