Well, I was a fool. But I did not think
much about Florence at that date. My mind was occupied with
what was happening at Branshaw. I had got it into my head that
the telegrams had something to do with Nancy. It struck me that
she might have shown signs of forming an attachment for some
undesirable fellow and that Leonora wanted me to come back and
marry her out of harm's way. That was what was pretty firmly in
my mind. And it remained in my mind for nearly ten days after my
arrival at that beautiful old place. Neither Edward nor Leonora
made any motion to talk to me about anything other than the
weather and the crops. Yet, although there were several young
fellows about, I could not see that any one in particular was
distinguished by the girl's preference. She certainly appeared illish
and nervous, except when she woke up to talk gay nonsense to
me. Oh, the pretty thing that she was. . . .
I imagined that what must have happened was that the undesirable
young man had been forbidden the place and that Nancy was
fretting a little. What had happened was just Hell. Leonora had
spoken to Nancy; Nancy had spoken to Edward; Edward had
spoken to Leonora--and they had talked and talked.
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