Susie gave Arthur Burdon the
note which she had found in Margaret's room. He read it and then thought
for a long time.
'I'm afraid she's right,' he said at length. 'It seems quite hopeless.
The man has some power over her which we can't counteract.'
Susie wondered whether his strong scepticism was failing at last.
She could not withstand her own feeling that there was something
preternatural about the hold that Oliver had over Margaret. She had
no shadow of a doubt that he was able to affect his wife even at a
distance, and was convinced now that the restlessness of the last few
days was due to this mysterious power. He had been at work in some
strange way, and Margaret had been aware of it. At length she could
not resist and had gone to him instinctively: her will was as little
concerned as when a chip of steel flies to a magnet.
'I cannot find it in my heart now to blame her for anything she has
done,' said Susie. 'I think she is the victim of a most lamentable fate.
I can't help it. I must believe that he was able to cast a spell on her;
and to that is due all that has happened.
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