Miss Cameron said it would give her more freedom to look
about her.
In the midst of all this security, and on the very first
day after their arrival, it was disconcerting to be told
that a lady, whose name they had never heard before, had
called to see Miss Cameron and Mrs Kilbannon. They had
not even appeared at church, as they told one another
with dubious glances. They had no reason whatever to
expect visitors. Dr Drummond was in the cemetery burying
a member; Mrs Forsyth was also abroad. "Now who in the
world," asked Mrs Kilbannon of Miss Cameron, "is Miss
Murchison?"
"They come to our church," said Sarah, in the door.
"They've got the foundry. It's the oldest one. She
teaches."
Sarah in the door was even more disconcerting than an
unexpected visitor. Sarah invariably took them off their
guard, in the door or anywhere. She freely invited their
criticism, but they would not have known how to mend her.
They looked at her now helplessly, and Mrs Kilbannon
said, "Very well. We will be down directly."
"It may be just some friendly body," she said, as they
descended the stairs together, "or it may be common
curiosity. In that case we'll disappoint it."
Whatever they expected, therefore, it was not Advena. It
was not a tall young woman with expressive eyes, a manner
which was at once abrupt and easy, and rather a lounging
way of occupying the corner of a sofa.
Pages:
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355