FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   193   194   195   196   197   198   199   200   201   202   203   204   205   206   207   208   209   210   211   212   213   214   215   216   217  
218   219   220   221   222   223   224   225   226   227   228   229   230   231   232   233   234   235   236   237   238   239   240   241   242   >>   >|  
e between ancient trunks and packing cases, Peter said: "Mrs. Winston, I've made up my mind to tell you something, and this is a good place to do it. When I've told you, you'll understand why I didn't want Miss Keddison to find that book of photographs, and why I don't even want it to exist in this house." Then he went on, and told me the most extraordinary and astonishing story. I'd give anything to pass it on to you; and having got _so_ far, you'll curse me for not going farther! But I had to promise I wouldn't write or breathe the secret to any one except Jack. So, alas, you must wait till the embargo is taken off. Peter wouldn't let me look for the little red volume described by Aunt Mary, because I was to say to her that I couldn't find it. He it was who opened the drawer of the secretary where she had thought the book might be, and I heard a rustling of papers for a minute or two. Then the drawer was shut. I asked no questions, but when we went down to report the failure of my quest I _fancied_ that the left side of Peter's chest was slightly--very slightly--more prominent than the right, as if he had something thicker than a handkerchief in his breast pocket. I am writing this in my bedroom, by lamplight (no gas, no electricity for Aunt Mary), and instead of hating our visit and nearly perishing, as we expected to do, Jack and I are enchanted that we came. It evidently _was_ to be, as servants say when they break one of your best cups. Now we may be able to help (?) along. Much love. Yours, MOLLY OF THE GUILTY SECRET. XXVI MOLLY WINSTON TO MERCEDES LANE _Bretton Woods._ DEAREST GIRL: I am positively afraid to write you, lest you and Monty think me a _Beast_ for harrowing up your feelings about Peter Storm and the book of photographs, and Aunt Mary's garret, the way I did, and then letting you down with a dull thud. Jack says it was cruelty to animals (he doesn't state what kind) to have told you anything, as I couldn't tell you all. But I just got going, and couldn't bear to stop till I had to! We've travelled such a long way now, since Wenham, that I can't describe all the places to you as I generally do in my letters, and, besides, it might make you even more cros
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   193   194   195   196   197   198   199   200   201   202   203   204   205   206   207   208   209   210   211   212   213   214   215   216   217  
218   219   220   221   222   223   224   225   226   227   228   229   230   231   232   233   234   235   236   237   238   239   240   241   242   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

couldn

 

slightly

 

drawer

 

wouldn

 

photographs

 

Wenham

 
describe
 

evidently

 
perishing
 
hating

electricity

 
expected
 
servants
 

places

 
letters
 

generally

 
enchanted
 

travelled

 
garret
 

lamplight


feelings

 
letting
 

animals

 

cruelty

 

harrowing

 

MERCEDES

 

WINSTON

 

SECRET

 

Bretton

 

afraid


DEAREST

 

positively

 

GUILTY

 
minute
 
extraordinary
 

astonishing

 

farther

 

promise

 

breathe

 

secret


Winston

 

packing

 
trunks
 

ancient

 
Keddison
 
understand
 

embargo

 
fancied
 
failure
 

report