“No doubt, no doubt,” said the other, and walked to the entrance. “I’m going out to have a look around.” On the sill he turned and addressed Anne. “I gave some instructions to you ladies and I expected to have them followed. You’ll please remember them in the future.”
He passed out into the brilliancy of the moonlight. Now that he was gone Bassett felt he must make her understand. He had been astonished at what she had done. It was so unlike her, a disobedience of orders at such a time as this.
“You must do what they tell you, Anne. They have to make these rules and it’s up to us to keep them.”
“I will now. You can trust me. Mr. Williams, you can see how it was. I couldn’t sleep and my mind was full of this awful thing, and I thought if I could put it on something else—get free from my thoughts even for a few minutes!”
Williams grunted his comprehension. He felt rather tenderly toward her, she looked so small and wan and her voice was so pleading.
“Where was your book?” he asked.
“On the table behind you. I was feeling round for it and I think I pushed it off with the lamp.”
“What was the name of it?”
“Victory, by Joseph Conrad.”
He went to the table. His back turned, she and Bassett exchanged a long look. Williams picked up the book and came back with it.