"Mrs. Ronald told me that she was staying at
Ramsgate with friends. She would move into my house, she said, when her
friends left--but they had not quite settled the day yet. She calls
here for letters. Indeed, she was here early this morning, to pay the
second week's rent. I asked when she thought of moving in. She didn't
seem to know; her friends (as I understood) had not made up their
minds. I must say I thought it a little odd. Would you like to leave
any message?"
He recovered himself sufficiently to speak. "Can you tell me where her
friends live?" he said.
The landlady shook her head. "No, indeed. I offered to save Mrs. Ronald
the trouble of calling here, by sending letters or cards to her present
residence. She declined the offer--and she has never mentioned the
address. Would you like to come in and rest, sir? I will see that your
card is taken care of, if you wish to leave it."
"Thank you, ma'am--it doesn't matter--good morning."
The landlady looked after him as he descended the house-steps. "It's
the husband, Peggy," she said to the servant, waiting inquisitively
behind her. "Poor old gentleman! And such a respectable-looking woman,
too!"
Mr.
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