“Oh yes,” she replied with a smile. “We’ve often laughed over my absurd ignorance of London.”
“Do you intend to live always with your aunt?”
“Ah, I do not know. Unfortunately there are some in whose footsteps evil always follows; some upon whom the shadow of sin for ever falls,” and she sighed as she added, “I am one of those.”
I glanced across at her in surprise. She was holding her cup in her hand, and her face was pale and agitated, as though the confession had involuntarily escaped her.
“I don’t understand?” I said, puzzled. “Are you a fatalist?”
“I’m not quite certain,” she answered, in an undecided tone. “As I have already told you, I hesitated to visit you because of the evil which I bring upon those who are my friends.”
“But explain to me,” I exclaimed, interested. “Of what nature is this evil? It is surely not inevitable?”
“Yes,” she responded, in a calm, low voice, “it is inevitable. You have been very kind to me, therefore I have no desire to cause you any unhappiness.”
“I really can’t help thinking that you view things rather gloomily,” I said, in as irresponsible a tone as I could.
“I only tell you that which is the truth. Some persons have a faculty for working evil, even when they intend to do good. They are the accursed among their fellows.”