“No; I’m not the eldest. But I don’t see what business it is of yours who I am. Let me go,”—for she had laid her hand—it was covered with an old black kid glove much too large for her—on my sleeve; “let me go,” I said, as I felt her holding me more firmly. “You may save yourself the trouble of going on to the Yew Trees. Captain Whyte and Mrs Whyte wouldn’t speak to you.”
“Indeed,” she said with a sneer, “I can quite believe it, to judge by their daughter’s pretty manners to a poor tired old woman. I could not have believed it of— He was proud, but you are insolent, I can tell you. It’s as well, perhaps, but I wish I hadn’t met you, with your fair hair and pretty eyes, just like— Have they never taught you to show respect to age, young lady? I suppose you think yourself a lady?”
“You are insolent,” I said, stamping my foot in fury.
“How dare you—get away you dirty old tramp, or I’ll send for the police.”
But at that moment, while the old woman positively glared at me through her veil, Anna, who had not yet spoken, came close and whispered something in my ear, “I daresay she’s insane,” Anna said; “you know there’s an asylum at Wichthorpe. She may have escaped. You should never provoke mad people, Connie.”
And she turned to the stranger, and spoke to her gently. “I think you would get any information you want in Elmwood better than here,” she said. “Captain and Mrs Whyte have not been here so very long. And—and I think they’re rather busy to-day.”
The old woman turned to her. She looked at Anna for a moment or two without speaking.
“Thank you,” she said. “I have changed my mind; I have no wish to pay the Whyte family a visit. I—I think I’ve had enough of them. And who are you, pray?” she went on. “You have a civil tongue in your head at least.”
“I’m—my father’s the Vicar of Elmwood,” said Anna, very frightened, but not daring not to reply. “He’s Mr Gale—if you want anything, I daresay he could help you. You could ask for the Vicarage.”
“No, thank you; but I’m obliged. Yes, I’m obliged to you,” said the queer creature. Then she turned and walked rapidly back the way she had come. We lost sight of her, of course, when she turned into the road; but a moment or two afterwards we heard wheels, and looking right on to the end of the lane, we saw a fly drive rapidly past. We looked at each other.