‘Indeed?’
‘Yes. He is a relation of mine, who wished to see me without making his appearance here the subject of gossip among the Hazlehurst people. He wrote to me, telling me that he was about to travel through this part of the country, and asking me to give him a private interview. It suited his humour best to come to this place after dark, and to leave it unobserved, as he thought.’
‘I trust you will not think me intrusive for having spoken of this subject, Miss Malcolm?’
‘Not at all. It was natural you should be interested in the welfare of the house.’
‘And in yours. I hope that you will believe that was nearer my thoughts than any sordid fears as to the safety of the old plate and pictures. And now that I am leaving Hazlehurst, Miss Malcolm, may I venture to ask your plans for the future?’
‘They are scarcely worth the name of plans. I intend moving from this house to the lodgings I spoke of the other day; that is all.’
‘Don’t you think you will find living alone very dull? Would it not be better for you to go into a school, or some place where you could have society?’
‘I have thought of that, but I don’t fancy I should quite like the monotonous routine of a school. I am prepared to find my life a little dull, but I am very fond of this place, and I am not without friends here.’
‘I can quite imagine that. You ought to have many friends in Hazlehurst.’
‘But I have not many friends. I have not the knack of forming friendships. There are only two or three people in the world whose regard I feel sure of, or who seem to understand me.’