Reliance was startled. “You have found out—!” she cried. “But how could you?”
“Bob told me. I went to see him at his studio yesterday afternoon.”
“You went there! Oh, dear me! That was a risky thing to do, Esther. There will be more talk.”
“I don’t think any one saw me; but never mind if they did. I had to go.”
“And did he tell you—everything?”
“No; but he told me a good deal. He admitted that he met Seymour on the lower road that morning, that they had high words, and how the accident happened. He would not tell me why Seymour was there, with uncle’s horses, at such a time. Nor why they quarreled. Oh, Aunt Reliance, if you do know more than that, please tell me. Can’t you see I must know?”
Reliance still hesitated.
“Before I do, dearie,” she said gently, “will you answer another question? Do you—do you really care for this Mr. Covell?”
Esther stepped back. “Care for him?” she repeated. “Care for him?... No,” emphatically, “I do not.”
Reliance seemed to find the answer satisfactory. She nodded.