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At first no one had thought it in the least strange that Anna stayed on with her, but now, occasionally, someone said a word indicative of surprise that there should be a German woman living in Witanbury Close. But what were these foolish, ignorant criticisms but tiny pin-pricks compared with the hidden wound in her heart?
And, as if this was not joy enough, Sir Jacques, on the same day, told his young friends that now at last the time had come when they might go off, alone together, to the little house, within sound of the sea, which an old friend of Lady Blake had offered to lend them for Jervis's convalescence and honeymoon. Anna was hurrying through the quiet streets of Witanbury on her way to Mr. Head's Stores.
She took the piece of paper in her hand, then looked at it and at him, uncomprehendingly. "It concerns a consignment of bitter oranges. I do not want the Witanbury Post Office to know my business." "Yes, I understand what you mean." "It is, as you see, a Spanish telegram, and it will cost" he made a rapid calculation, then went to the sideboard and took out some silver.
He reminded his hearers that even if they, in quiet Witanbury, knew nothing of the great and stirring things which were happening elsewhere, there must have been thousands it might truly be said tens of thousands of men and women who had known that our soldiers were leaving their country for France. And yet not a word had been said, not a hint conveyed, either privately or in the press.
She felt ruffled by the little talk they two had just had so ruffled and upset that, instead of turning into the gate of the house where she had been bound for she, too, had meant to pay a call in the Close on her way to the cathedral she walked slowly on the now deserted stretch of road running through and under the avenue of elm trees which are so beautiful and distinctive a feature of Witanbury Close.
The daily papers were delivered very early in Witanbury Close. And after she had helped old Anna as far as Anna would allow herself to be helped in the light housework with which she began each day, Rose went out and stood by the gate. She longed to know what news, if any, there was.
Meanwhile the Witanbury Stores presented a very sorry appearance the more so that some evilly disposed person had gone in the dark, after the boarding had been put up, and splashed across the boards a quantity of horrid black stuff! Anna hurried round to the back door. In answer to her ring, the door was opened at last a little way, and Polly's pretty, anxious face looked out cautiously.
"I cannot say that I ever found the conversation of the young English officers here in Witanbury very illuminating." "Not exactly illuminating," said the other cautiously. "But take the last few days? You must have heard a good deal of information as to coming plans." "Not one word did I hear," said the other man quickly "not one word, Mr. Hegner!
More than one person declared that they had actually seen Cossacks peeping out of the windows of the trains which, with blinds down, were certainly rushing through Witanbury station, one every ten minutes, through each short summer night. All the people the Otways knew took great glory and comfort in these rumours, but Mrs. Otway heard the news with very mixed feelings.
When Manfred Hegner had first come to Witanbury, Anna had been delighted to make his acquaintance, and she had spent many happy half-hours chatting with him in the little Delicatessen shop he had established in Bridge Street, close to the Market Place. Starting with only the good-will of a bankrupt confectioner, he had very soon built up a wonderfully prosperous business.
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