Part 44 (2/2)
”Which is nothe rooive notice that I leave your service this day o to-es in full”
”You go to-o to-night Leave the room”
Tildy breathed a little quickly, felt inclined to pat ht better of it, and left the rooht Martin to hi to worry about cook and her whirew a little ry
”She has that letter in her pocket; I saw her put it there when I was acting the part of the Troubadour,” he said to hi it now; but she sha'n't--not before I get it”
He softly left the dining-room and crept with catlike steps upstairs
He stopped outside his wife's bedroo there He turned the handle of the door It was locked
”Open the door at once,” he said; and Mrs Martin flew to do so
”Oh Bo-peep, you gave ht!”
”Where is that letter, Victoria?”
”It--it--I can't find it,” she replied
”What are those papers lying on the floor?”
Mrs Martin gave a cry Mr Martin was too quick for her He swept up the pieces of torn letter, collected the Mrs Martin with the other hand, returned with her to the dining-roo,” he said, ”while I piece the letter together There is so in it that you want hidden from me; but you've quite mistook your man There are to be no secrets between you andto have that girl ruling you You're frightened of that girl Now, let's see what she has to say”
Poor Mrs Martin trembled from head to foot Suddenly she went on her knees, clasped her hands round Bo-peep's arhty She was a silly child Oh, forgive her! I ought to have destroyed the letter I ought not to have kept it until you came back Please--please, don't read it!”
”Nonsense, Little-sing,” he replied, restored once ood hu will induce me not to see every word of the letter now”
It took Martin soie's letter; but at last the greater part of itswas made plain to hi at her lord andlay ahead of her? She felt crushed beyond words Once again she struggled to get on her knees to ireat hand and kept her forcibly in her seat
When he had quite taken in theof the letter he made no coments in his pocket-book Then he said quietly, ”I don't blaot to punish this girl
To-morrow I shall be busy in town The day after will be Friday, and I shall be busy then; but on Saturday we'll take a half-holiday and go to visit Miss Margaret Howland at Aylrocer and his wife together Not a word, my love; not a word”
CHAPTER XXI
TILDY'S MESSAGE