“Well, Mrs Smithers, what has been going on since I left you?” he cried.
“Of course you wouldn’t have heard, sir,” she answered gravely.
He began to tremble, but with an almost superhuman effort controlled his voice.
“Has the squire hanged himself?” he asked lightly.
“No sir—but the poor lady’s dead.”
He did not answer. He seemed turned to stone. He stared with ghastly eyes.
“Poor thing!” said Susie, forcing herself to speak. “Was it—very sudden?”
The woman turned to Susie, glad to have someone with whom to discuss the event. She took no notice of Arthur’s agony.
“Yes, mum; no one expected it. She died quite sudden like. She was only buried this morning.”
“What did she die of?” asked Susie, her eyes on Arthur.