‘I’m sorry I was angry. I thought you were just one of the people who came to look on, but if you knew Marion, that’s different. She – she’s awfully brave.’

‘It’s haunted me the way she looked – it has, indeed, miss. The last day I didn’t know how to bear it – I didn’t indeed. And I tried to see her. Miss, if I never spoke another word, it’s true as I tried to see her. I give him the slip and I got out and round to where she was staying, and they wouldn’t let me in -said she wasn’t seeing anyone – said she was resting – ’ She broke off suddenly with her mouth half open and stayed like that, not seeming to breathe for a dragging moment. Then, in a whisper, hardly moving her lips, ‘If she’d ha’ seen me – ’ She fixed her light wild eyes on Hilary and said, her tone quickened with horror, ‘She didn’t see me. Resting – that’s what they told me. And then he come, and I never got another chance – he saw to that.’

Hilary made nothing of this, but it left her with the feeling that she ought to be able to make something of it. She spoke again in the same kind voice as before.

‘Will you tell me your name? Mrs. Grey will like to know that you were asking after her.’

The woman put one of the black-gloved hands to her head.

‘I forgot you didn’t know me. I’ve let myself run on. I shouldn’t have done it, but when I see you it come over me. I always liked Mrs. Grey, and I’ve wanted to know all the year how she was, and about the baby. It’s all right, isn’t it?’

Hilary shook her head. Poor Marion – and the baby that never breathed at all.

‘No,’ she said – ‘she lost the baby. It came too soon and she lost it.’

The black hands took hold of one another again.

‘I didn’t know. There wasn’t no one I could ask.’

‘You haven’t told me your name.’

‘No,’ she said, and drew a quick gasping breath.

‘Oh, he’ll be coming back in a minute! Oh, miss – Mr. Geoffrey – if you could tell me if there’s any news – ’