Then at the bottom two words were added,--
"Burn this."
As she was reading it a second time Mrs Plummer came into the hall, white and shaky.
"Have you heard the dreadful news?"
She asked the question in a kind of divided gasp, as if she were short of breath. Miss Arnott did not answer for a moment. She fixed her glance on the elder lady, as if she were looking not at, but through her. Then she put a question in return.
"Where is Cooper's Spinney?"
Had the girl hauled at her a volley of objurgations Mrs Plummer could not have seemed more distressed.
"Cooper's Spinney!" she exclaimed. "Why do you ask me? How should I know?"
Without stopping for anything further Miss Arnott went up to her bedroom. There she found Evans, waiting to relieve her of her motoring attire. As she performed her accustomed offices her mistress became aware that her hands were trembling.
"What's the matter with you? Aren't you well?"