Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 28, 2025
Westwood remained in his former position, grasping the back of a chair and looking from one to the other, as if he were anxious to help, but knew not how to offer any assistance. In the silence that prevailed, the sound of heavy footsteps could be distinctly heard upon the stairs. The police had arrived at last. Almost immediately Cynthia and Sabina Meldreth returned to the room.
Meldreth she certainly showed peculiar favor. Many a gift of food and wine went from the Hall across Mrs. Meldreth's threshold; and it was noticed that Mrs. Meldreth was occasionally admitted to Mrs. Vane's own room for a private conference with the lady of Beechfield Hall herself. But those who commented wonderingly on that fact were reminded that Mrs.
Vane closed her heavy white eyelids, and did not raise them until the fair-haired woman in black, whom Hubert had noticed with the singers on New Year's Eve, was standing beside her couch. "I thought you was asleep," said Miss Meldreth, with a slightly insolent air. "Some people can sleep through anything." "All the better for them," answered Mrs. Vane dryly. "Why have you come?"
She saw that it would be of no use to press Sabina Meldreth upon him, much as she would have liked to secure the services of a spy and an informer in the house. As she paused, the General came forward. "I should like to know, sir," he said, bristling with indignation, "what you mean by saying that that young lady that girl has a right to be here? I do not understand such language?"
"Well, perhaps she would. You've got a head on your shoulders, Cynthia that you have! Miss Meldreth would have to get to Mrs. Vane and tell her this morning, as she said; then Mrs. Vane would let the police know. That gives us till about eleven or twelve o'clock." "Two hours' start. Is not that sufficient?" Westwood shook his head. "The first thing they will do is to telegraph to all the ports."
When he had gone, Mrs. Vane also departed, taking her docile husband back with her to the Grosvenor Hotel. She had gained her point and was secretly triumphant; for she had secured the presence of a spy upon Cynthia, and could depend upon Sabina Meldreth to give a full account of Miss West's habits and visitors. Flossy had great faith in her system of espionage.
She had fair hair and a fine figure, but her face could not be seen. "It is very like," said Westwood, standing up and staring after her. "She's been very friendly with me since I came; and I've had tea with her and Mrs. Gunn more than once. Strange to relate; she comes from Beechfield too. She's the daughter of old Mrs. Meldreth, who used to keep the sweetie-shop; don't you remember her?"
At that very moment Parker knocked at her mistress' door. "Will you see Miss Meldreth, ma'am? She says she would like a few words with you, if you can see her. She's down-stairs." "Bring Sabina Meldreth to me," said Mrs. Vane.
"Why do you let the young lady there wait upon your mother? Can you not nurse her yourself, my good girl?" Sabina Meldreth curtseyed, but in evident mockery, for the color in her cheeks grew higher, and her tone was anything but respectful when she spoke.
"I'd something to say to you, my dearie," said Mrs. Meldreth, whose voice, though feeble, was now perfectly distinct; "and 'dearie' I must call you, although I haven't the right to do it now. I held you in my arms, my dear, five minutes after you came into this here wicked world, and I've allus looked on you as one o' my own babies, so to speak."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking