"Every one felt
interested in this marriage. You watched her of course. Now what
was the result? Did you consider her well and happy?"
The girl's voice sank and she cast a glance at her master which he
did not lift his head to meet.
"I did not think her happy. She laughed and sang and was always in
and out of the rooms like a butterfly, but she did not wear a happy
look, except now and then when she was seated with Mr. Jeffrey alone.
Then I have seen her flush in a way to make the heart ache; it was
such a contrast, sir, to other times when she was by herself or -"
"Or what?"
"Or just with her sister, sir."
The defiance with which this was said added point to what otherwise
might have been an unimportant admission. Those who had already
scrutinized Miss Tuttle with the curiosity of an ill-defined suspicion
now scrutinized her with a more palpable one, and those who had
hitherto seen nothing in this heavily-veiled woman but the bereaved
sister of an irresponsible suicide allowed their looks to dwell
piercingly on that concealing veil, as if they would be glad to
penetrate its folds and read in those beautiful features the meaning
of an allusion uttered with such a sting in the tone.
"You refer to Miss Tuttle?" observed the coroner.
"Mrs.
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