9
She was sitting brooding over her fire about ten o'clock
that night when a sealed and registered envelope was
brought up to her.
She opened it and drew out a letter, and folded within
it were the notes she had sent off to Ramage that day.
The letter began:
“MY DEAREST GIRL, —I cannot let you do this foolish
thing —”
She crumpled notes and letter together in her hand, and
then with a passionate gesture flung them into the fire.
Instantly she seized the poker and made a desperate
effort to get them out again. But she was only able to
save a corner of the letter. The twenty pounds burned
with avidity.
She remained for some seconds crouching at the fender,
poker in hand.
“By Jove!” she said, standing up at last, “that about
finishes it, Ann Veronica!”
