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Updated: April 30, 2025
Bundlecombe was silent again, and the other did not disturb her, knowing by experience what the effort to speak would be likely to end in. Things had not gone well at Birchmead in the last six months. The news of Alan's arrest on the charge of wife-murder that was the exaggerated shape in which it first reached the village was a terrible blow to poor Aunt Bessy.
Perhaps, indeed, she would not have taken to it at all. Lettice's visit had greatly excited Mrs. Bundlecombe, who had for some time past been in that precarious state in which any excitement, however slight, is dangerous.
Lettice was better pleased to see her this time; but there was a sinking at her heart as she thought from whom the old lady had come, and wondered what her coming might mean. Mrs. Bundlecombe produced from her bag a little roll of paper, and laid it on the table with trembling hands.
Bundlecombe, who was of some note in the world as a collector of second-hand books; but, as Lettice had no reason to think that he had bought anything of Mrs. Bundlecombe personally, she could not imagine what the object of this visit might be. "Did she say what her business was, Milly?" "No, miss. Only she said she had heard you were living here, and she would like to see you, please."
"Well, it was yesterday; we had been in great trouble" and here Mrs. Bundlecombe broke down, having been very near doing it from the moment when she entered the room. Lettice comforted her as well as she could, and made her drink a glass of wine; and so she gradually recovered her voice.
Don't say anything against it, my dear, for my Alan says it must be done, and there is no use in trying to turn him. It is the right method for peace of conscience, as the good Mr. Baxter said, and that must be my apology, though I am sure you will not think it was nothing but sinful self-seeking that made me come to you before." "I don't understand, Mrs. Bundlecombe!
Other cottages have been run up in the meantime, and a few villas of a more pretentious character; but there is always a brisk competition for the substantial domiciles, as snug and sound as any almshouse, which encircle the village green of Birchmead. In one of these cottages Mrs. Bundlecombe found a refuge when Alan sent her away from London.
Bundlecombe, in a feeble voice. "And I was thinking as you went round, cutting off the flowers that have had their day, that if you had come to me and cut me off with the rest of them, there would have been one less poor old withered thing in the world.
Bundlecombe very well the old woman who came and took her first twenty pounds of savings; the widow of the bookseller who had bought part of her father's library. If he was her son, he might not have much to be proud of, but why need he have changed his name? Decidedly this was a blow to her. She had no defence ready, and Sydney saw that she was uncomfortable.
Her grand-daughter had written once to the old ladies from London, according to her promise; after which they had heard of her no more, although they sent her word of her grandmother's death, to the address which she had given them. The sun was sinking low in the sky, and it was time for Mrs. Bundlecombe to be taken indoors.
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