Part 42 (1/2)
”Anyone else been? I suppose no one came here to ask about me, for instance, Mrs. Bonner?”
”No one, sir, not a soul, no--stay a moment. The day you left that there nosey Parker of a gel Alice Betts came. I couldn't make out whatever she came for. Me, I don't 'old with them Bettses, anyhow she came. It was her brother that brought you that letter from Miss Joan Meredyth the day you went, sir, and she said something about 'earing as I'd lost my lodger.”
”I see. And who is Alice Betts?”
”Her--she be a maid at Starden Hall.”
”I see,” Hugh repeated. ”I see! Mrs. Bonner,” he said, ”will you do something for me?”
”Anything, of course!”
”Will you take a letter for me to Miss Joan Meredyth?”
Would she not? Mrs. Bonner caught her breath. Then there was something between these two, even though Miss Joan Meredyth was engaged to marry Mr. John Everard of Buddesby!
”Mrs. Bonner,” said Hugh a few minutes later, ”I am going to trust you absolutely. Miss Meredyth and I--are--old friends. It is urgent that I see her. I want you to take this letter to her; tell no one at the Hall that the letter is from me, tell no one that I am back. No one knows. I did not meet a soul on the road from the station, and I don't want my presence here known. I am trusting you!”
”You can, sir!”
”I am sure of it. Take that note to Miss Meredyth, ask to see her personally. Don't mention my name. Give her that letter, and if, when she has read it, she will come with you, bring her here, because I must see her, and to-night.”
It was Alice Betts who opened the door to Mrs. Bonner.
”Oh, good evening, Mrs. Bonner!”
”I didn't come 'ere to bandy no words with you,” said Mrs. Bonner. ”I never held with you, Alice Betts,” she added severely.
”I don't see what I've done!”
”No pre-aps you don't. Anyhow, I'm here to see your mistress. You go and tell her I am here.”
”If I say I've brought a letter that gel will guess who it is from,”
Mrs. Bonner thought, so, wisely, she held her peace.
A few minutes later Mrs. Bonner was shewn into the drawing-room. She dropped a curtsey.
”You want to see me?”
”Yes, miss, but first--excuse me, miss!”
Mrs. Bonner hurriedly opened the door.
”I thought so,” she said. ”Didn't you best be getting off to your work?”
Alice Betts went.
”A spy! If I might make so bold, miss, I'd get rid of her. Them Bettses never was no good, what with the drink and things. I got a letter for you, miss, only I didn't want that gel to know it.”
”Joan, I am back again. No one knows that I am, here except Mrs. Bonner and now yourself. I have reasons for wis.h.i.+ng my return to remain unknown. But I must see you. You will believe that I would not ask you to come to me here if there was not urgent need.”