It is impossible to say how the
photograph came into the possession of that lady."
"Will you ask him, sir?"
"Yes, when you are gone. But he won't speak while you are in
the room."
Susan drooped her head and rose dolefully. "My dream is
gone," she said mournfully, "though I was improving myself in
spelling and figures so that I might go out as a governess and
perhaps meet him in high circles."
"Ah, that's all Family Herald fiction," said Jennings, not
unkindly.
"Yes! I know now, sir. My delusions are gone. But I will do
anything I can to help Mr. Mallow and I hope he'll always
think kindly of me."
"I'm sure he will. By the way, what are you doing now?"
"I go home to help mother at Stepney, sir, me having no call
to go out to service. I have a happy home, though not
fashionable. And after my heart being crushed I can't go out
again," sighed Susan sadly.
"Are you sorry to leave Rose Cottage?"
"No, sir," Susan shuddered, "that dead body with the blood and
the cards will haunt me always. Mrs. Pill, as is going to
marry Thomas Barnes and rent the cottage, wanted me to stay,
but I couldn't."
Jennings pricked up his ears. "What's that? How can Mrs.
Pill rent so expensive a place."
"It's by arrangement with Miss Saxon, sir. Mrs. Pill told me
all about it. Miss Saxon wished to sell the place, but Thomas
Barnes spoke to her and said he had saved money while in Miss
Loach's service for twenty years--"
"Ah," said Jennings thoughtfully, "he was that time in Miss
Loach's service, was he?"
"Yes, sir.
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