Part 108 (2/2)
”No.”
There was an unpleasant silence during which neither woman looked at the other. Then Lady Sellingworth said:
”But you haven't told me everything. And if I am to--if anything is to be done, can be done, I suppose you had better tell me everything.”
”Yes. I want to. I must. Mr.--he told f.a.n.n.y that I was--that I had promised to marry him.”
”Ah!”
”He told her that I had been to his flat on the very day that I had heard of my father's death and since. He promised f.a.n.n.y that--that when we were married she should have a home with us. Isn't that horrible?
f.a.n.n.y has been afraid of my marrying because, you see, she depends in a way on me. She doesn't want to leave me. She's got accustomed--”
”Yes--yes.”
”He told her that people knew about my visits to him. Mrs. Birchington lives in the flat opposite his, and she knows. He contrived that she should know. I realize that now.”
”A man like that lays his plans carefully.”
”Yes. Oh--how humiliating it all is! f.a.n.n.y was enthusiastic about him.”
”What did you say?”
”I was very careful. Because I promised you! But I know she thinks--she must think I am in love with him. But that doesn't matter. Only it makes things difficult. But it isn't that which brought me here. I'm afraid of him.”
”Have you ever written to him?”
”No--never!”
”But you say he has written to you.”
”Yes. When he left f.a.n.n.y he wrote a letter in the hotel and had it sent up to my room. f.a.n.n.y gave it me just now. I've got it here.”
She drew a letter out of a little bag she had brought with her.
”I--I can't show it--”
”Oh--please--I don't want to see it!” said Lady Sellingworth, with an irrepressible shrinking of disgust.
”No, of course not. Adela, please don't think I imagined you did! But I must tell you--I know you hate all this. You must hate it. Oh, do forgive me for coming here! I know I oughtn't to. But I'm afraid--I'm afraid of him!”
”Why are you so afraid? What can he do?”
”A man like that might do anything!”
”Are you sure? I think such a man is probably a coward at heart.”
But Miss Van Tuyn shook her head.
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