Part 4 (1/2)
”But why should any one write such a letter about me,” said Anne, raising her hands to her forehead, ”and the Scarlet Cross? It is very strange.”
”What is the Scarlet Cross?” asked Mrs. Morley seriously.
”I know no more than you do,” replied Anne earnestly, ”save that my father sometimes received letters marked with a red cross and on his watch-chain wore a gold cross enamelled with scarlet.”
”Did your father know what the cross meant?” asked Mrs. Morley.
”He must have known, but he never explained the matter to me.”
”Perhaps if you asked him now to----”
”My father is dead,” she said in a low voice; ”he died a year ago in Italy.”
”Then this mystery must remain a mystery,” said Morley, with a shrug.
”Upon my word, I don't like all this. What is to be done?”
”Put the letter into the hands of the police,” suggested his wife.
”No,” said Morley decisively; ”if the police heard the ravings of Daisy, Heaven knows what they would think.”
”But, my dear, it is ridiculous,” said Mrs. Morley indignantly. ”We have always treated Daisy like one of ourselves. We have nothing to conceal.
I am very angry at her.”
”You should rather pity her,” said Anne gently, ”for she is a prey to nerves. However, the best thing to be done is for me to leave this place. I shall go after the New Year.”
”I'm sure I don't know what the children will do without you,” sighed the lady; ”they are so fond of you, and I never had any governess I got on better with. What will you do?”
”Get a situation somewhere else,” said Anne cheerfully, ”abroad if possible; but I have become a bugbear to Daisy, and it is best that I should go.”
”I think so too, Miss Denham, although both my wife and I are extremely sorry to lose you.”
”You have been good friends to me,” said Miss Denham simply, ”and my life here has been very pleasant; but it is best I should go,” she repeated, ”and that letter, will you give me a copy, Mr. Morley?”
”Certainly, but for what reason?”
”I should like to find out who wrote it, and why it was written. It will be a difficult matter, but I am curious to know who this enemy of mine may be.”
”Do you think it is an enemy?” asked Mrs. Morley.
Anne nodded. ”And an enemy that knows something about my father's life,”
she said emphatically, ”else why was mention made about the Scarlet Cross? But I'll learn the truth somehow, even if I have to employ a detective.”
”You had much better leave the matter alone and get another situation, Miss Denham,” said Morley sagely. ”We will probably hear no more of this, and when you go the matter will fade from Daisy's mind. I'll send her away to the seaside for a week, and have the doctor to see her.”
”Dr. Tait shall see her at once,” said Mrs. Morley, with more vigor than was usual with her. ”But about your going, Miss Denham, I am truly sorry. You have been a good friend to me, and the dear children do you credit. I hope we shall see you again.”
”When Daisy is married, not before,” replied Anne firmly; ”but I will keep you advised of my address.”
After some further conversation on this point the two women left the library. Daisy had shut herself in her room, and thither went Mrs.
Morley. She managed to sooth the girl, and gave her a sedative which calmed her nerves. When Daisy woke from sleep somewhere about five she expressed herself sorry for her foolish chatter, but still entertained a dread and a hatred of Anne. The governess wisely kept out of the way and made her preparations for departure. As yet the children were not told that they were to lose her. Knowing what their lamentations would be like, Mrs. Morley wisely determined to postpone that information till the eleventh hour.