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her own surprise at what she heard

"I was right in ht, as he took his

leave of Mrs Meredith who could not face Anna then, but paced

restlessly up and down her spacious roo how much Thornton

had suspected and what the end would be

She had sinned for naught Anna had upset all her cherished plans,

and, could she have gone back for a few ain, she would have left the letter lying where she found it But

that could not be now She

finally to hope for the best and abide the result, she went up to

Anna, who having no suspicion of her, hurt her ten times more cruelly

by the perfect faith hich she confided the story to her than

bitter reproaches would have done

"I know you wanted s," Anna said, "and I would

if I could have done so conscientiously, but I could not; for, I may

now confess it to you, I did love Arthur so much; and once I hoped

that he loved me"