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Chapter 21
“There’sonething,ofcourse—itoccurstome—toremember.Myletter,givingthealarm,willhavereachedtownbeforeyou.”
Inowperceivedstillmorehowshehadbeenbeatingaboutthebushandhowwearyatlastithadmadeher.“Yourletterwon’thavegotthere.Yourletterneverwent.”
“Whatthenbecameofit?”
“Goodnessknows!MasterMiles—”
“Doyoumeanhetookit?”Igasped.
Shehungfire,butsheovercameherreluctance.“ImeanthatIsawyesterday,whenIcamebackwithMissFlora,thatitwasn’twhereyouhadputit.LaterintheeveningIhadthechancetoquestionLuke,andhedeclaredthathehadneithernoticednortouchedit.”Wecouldonlyexchange,onthis,oneofourdeepermutualsoundings,anditwasMrs.Grosewhofirstbroughtuptheplumbwithanalmostelated“Yousee!”
“Yes,IseethatifMilestookitinsteadheprobablywillhavereaditanddestroyedit.”
“Anddon’tyouseeanythingelse?”
Ifacedheramomentwithasadsmile.“Itstrikesmethatbythistimeyoureyesareopenevenwiderthanmine.”
Theyprovedtobesoindeed,butshecouldstillblush,almost,toshowit.“Imakeoutnowwhathemusthavedoneatschool.”Andshegave,inhersimplesharpness,analmostdrolldisillusionednod.“Hestole!”
Iturneditover—Itriedtobemorejudicial.“Well—perhaps.”
Shelookedasifshefoundmeunexpectedlycalm.“Hestoleletters!”
Shecouldn’tknowmyreasonsforacalmnessafterallprettyshallow;soIshowedthemoffasImight
