Carr at the time? The latter,
indeed, proved to be the case; and never, to the end of his life, would
he, in one sense, forgive his own carelessness.
Who was A.W.? thought the curious old woman, as she drew the light nearer
to her, and began the tempting perusal, making the most of the little
time left. They could not be at tea yet, and she had told Lady Hartledon
she was going to take her nap in her own room. The gratification of
rummaging false Val's desk was an ample compensation; and the
countess-dowager hugged herself with delight.
But what was this she had come upon--this paper "concerning A. W."? The
dowager's mouth fell as she read; and gradually her little eyes opened as
if they would start from their sockets, and her face grew white. Have you
ever watched the livid pallor of fear struggling to one of these painted
faces? She dashed off her spectacles; she got up and wrung her hands;
she executed a frantic war-dance; and finally she tore, with the letter,
into the drawing-room, where Val and Anne and Thomas Carr were beginning
tea and talking quietly.
They rose in consternation as she danced in amongst them, and held out
the letter to Lord Hartledon.
He took it from her, gazing in utter bewilderment as he gathered in its
contents. Was it a fresh letter, or--his face became whiter than the
dowager's. In her reckless passion she avowed what she had done--the
letter was secreted in his desk.
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