A Coin of Edward VII: A Detective Story — David Hume — John Shaqi
A Coin of Edward VII: A Detective Story
David Hume · en
"Oh, Miss Denham is not going," said the master of the house.
"Who knows?" smiled Anne. "I have always been a wanderer, and it may be
that I shall be called away suddenly."
It was on the tip of Morley's tongue to ask by whom, but the hardening
of Anne's face and the flash of her dark eyes made him change his mind.
All the same he concluded that there was someone by whom she might be
summoned and guessed also that the obeying of the call would come as an
unwilling duty. Mrs. Morley saw nothing of this. She had not much brain
power, and what she had was devoted to considerations dealing with the
passing hour. At the present moment she could only think that it was
time for supper, and that all present were hungry and tired.
Hungry Anne certainly was not, but she confessed to feeling weary.
Making some excuse she retired to her room, but not to sleep. When the
door was locked she put on her dressing-gown, shook down her long black
hair, and sat by the fire.
Her thoughts were not pleasant. Filled with shame at the knowledge of
his treachery towards the woman he was engaged to marry, Giles had kept
close to Daisy's side during supper and afterwards. He strove to
interest himself in her somewhat childish chatter, and made her so happy
by his mere presence that her face was shining with smiles. Transfigured
by love and by gratified vanity, Daisy looked really pretty, and in her
heart was scornful of poor Anne thus left out in the cold. She concluded
that Giles loved her best after all, and did not see how he every now
and then stealthily glanced at the governess wearily striving to
interest herself in the breezy conversation of Morley or the domestic
chatter of his wife. In her heart Anne had felt a pang at this
desertion, although she knew that it was perfectly justifiable, and
unable to bear the sight of Daisy's brilliant face, she retired thus
early.