Part 29 (1/2)
”Nannie's darling--; Nannie's pet.”
From somewhere in the house came the silvery, tinkling sound of a clock striking seven times.
”I've got to go, Miss Genevieve, dear.”
”All right, Nannie.”
The woman drew a chair up and pushed her gently into it.
”You'll not be telling him, Miss?”
”No, Nannie--; no--”
The woman started for the door.
”Thank you, Miss Genevieve.”
”Nannie--; you said he was taking her--; the black-haired one--; away for a--a rest? Away into the country?”
With her hand on the door-k.n.o.b the woman turned.
”Yes. Why--lamb!”
”Into the country.” Genevieve Evans' voice was lifeless. ”Into the country where everything is quiet and big--; and clean. You said that, Nannie?”
”I said the country, Miss Genevieve, dearie.”
”Nannie--Nannie--;” her eyes were staring straight before her.
”I--want--to--go!”
”Lamb--darling.”
The woman stood undecided.
”But he wouldn't let me. He laughed at me. Nannie, he laughed.”
The woman made up her mind.
”Will Nannie stop with you a bit, Miss Genevieve, dearie?”
”You said;” Genevieve Evans' lifeless, monotonous voice went on; ”you said you wouldn't blame me for being angry. I get very angry, Nannie.
Very angry. It brings all kinds of things to me when I get angry. His kind of things. Rotten things. And he's going to take her into the country; where everything's clean; and he won't let me--go. G.o.d!”
”Will I stay, Miss Genevieve?”
”No, Nannie--go! Go quickly! Go--now!”
”Yes, Miss Genevieve. He'll be wanting to know where I am.”
”Go, Nannie!” She half rose from her chair. The door closed quietly behind the woman. ”Go!” Genevieve Evans whispered. ”He's going--into the country--; he's taking that woman. He wouldn't let me. He wants to keep me here. Just to feel his power--; his filthy power. He's not the only one.” She was muttering now. ”He's not the only one who can do things.