The coolness of the woman amazed and enraged me.

"You confess it!" I cried. "Have you, then, no shame left?"

"Why should I not receive letters from this gentleman?"

"Because it is infamous."

"And why?"

"Because he is a stranger."

"On the contrary," said she, "he is my husband!"



CHAPTER IX.


THE DOINGS AT WEST INCH.

I can remember that moment so well. I have heard from others that a
great, sudden blow has dulled their senses. It was not so with me.
On the contrary, I saw and heard and thought more clearly than I had
ever done before. I can remember that my eyes caught a little knob of
marble as broad as my palm, which was imbedded in one of the grey stones
of the rockery, and I found time to admire its delicate mottling.
And yet the look upon my face must have been strange, for Cousin Edie
screamed, and leaving me she ran off to the house. I followed her and
tapped at the window of her room, for I could see that she was there.