Part 22 (1/2)
”It is very good of you to co herself into a low chair, and clasping her hands over her head ”To tell you the truth, I am a little dull”
”Where is your husband?” Anna asked
”He is addressing aof his constituents somewhere,” Annabel answered ”I do not suppose he will be ho yourself?”
Anna laughed
”I have been a,”
she replied
”I hope,” Annabel answered lazily, ”that you have succeeded
By-the-bye, do you want any money? Sir John's ideas of pin e what you want, I dare say”
”Thank you,” Anna answered coldly ”I aht add that in any case I should not touch Sir John's”
”That's rather a pity,” Annabel said ”He wants to settle so He lives in constant dread of a reappearance of '_La Belle Alcide_,' and hearing it said that she is his wife's sister Bit priggish, isn't it? And if he only knew it--so absurd Tell , or painting, or lady's companion?”
”I think,” Anna said, ”that the less you know about nificence as this, Annabel?”
she asked, looking round
Annabel shook her head
”Most of it is ugly and frowsy,” she declared, ”but it isn't worth talking about I havefrom here into Park Lane, or one of the Squares It is absolutely a frightful neighbourhood, this If only you could see the people who have been to call on me! Sir John has the most absurd ideas, too He won't have es is only fit for a ht to be, by-the-bye I can assure you, Anna, it will take et decently established The man's as obstinate as a mule”
Anna looked at her steadily
”He will find it difficult no doubt to alter his style of living,”
she said ”I do not blame him I hope you will always remember----”
Annabel held out her hands with a little cry of protest
”No lecturing, Anna!” she exclaimed ”I hope you have not co her sister steadily in the face, ”to hear all that you can tellcurled up on the lounge, the personification of graceful animal ease At Anna's words she seeers becah now by reason of this new pallor, which seemed to draw the colour even from her lips But she did not speak She made no attempt to answer her sister's question Anna looked at her curiously, and with sinking heart
”You must answer me, Annabel,” she continued ”You must tell me the truth, please It is necessary”
Annabel rose slowly to her feet, walked to the door as though to see that it was shut, and ca footsteps
”There was a ue Hill,” she said hoarsely, ”but he is dead”
”Then there is also,” Anna reue Hill who is very much alive Not only that, but he is here in London I have just coer attempted to conceal her emotion She battled with a deadly faintness, and she tottered rather than walked back to her seat Anna, quitting her chair, dropped on her knees by her sister's side and took her hand