Her head ached, but she was
obliged to keep a cheerful demeanour in the effort to allay Arthur's
increasing anxiety. Dr Porhoet sat in front of her. After the sleepless
night his eyes were heavy and his face deeply lined. He was exhausted.
At length, after much tiresome changing, they reached Venning. She had
expected a greater coolness in that northern country; but there was a hot
blight over the place, and, as they walked to the inn from the little
station, they could hardly drag their limbs along.
Arthur had telegraphed from London that they must have rooms ready, and
the landlady expected them. She recognized Arthur. He passionately
desired to ask her whether anything had happened since he went away,
but forced himself to be silent for a while. He greeted her with
cheerfulness.
'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.
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