Page:ManInBrownSuit-Christie.pdf/105

96 would think of bursting in on me at 1 A.M. to tell me the story of their life. Especially after snubbing my natural curiosity for weeks as you have done! I'm not accustomed to being snubbed. It's been quite a pleasing novelty. Sit down on the sofa and unburden your soul."

I told her the whole story. It took some time as I was conscientious over all the details. She gave a deep sigh when I had finished, but she did not say at all what I had expected her to say. Instead she looked at me, laughed a little and said:

"Do you know, Anne, you're a very unusual girl? Haven't you ever had qualms?"

"Qualms?" I asked, puzzled.

"Yes, qualms, qualms, qualms! Starting off alone with practically no money. What will you do when you find yourself in a strange country with all your money gone?"

"It's no good bothering about that until it comes. I've got plenty of money still. The twenty-five pounds that Mrs. Flemming gave me is practically intact, and then I won the sweep yesterday. That's another fifteen pounds. Why, I've got lots of money. Forty pounds!"

"Lots of money! My God!" murmured Mrs. Blair. "I couldn't do it, Anne, and I've plenty of pluck in my own way. I couldn't start off gaily with a few pounds in my pocket and no idea as to what I was doing and where I was going."

"But that's the fun of it," I cried, thoroughly roused. "It gives one such a splendid feeling of adventure."

She looked at me, nodded once or twice, and then smiled.

"Lucky Anne! There aren't many people in the world who feel as you do."

"Well," I said impatiently, "what do you think of it all, Mrs. Blair?"

"I think it's the most thrilling thing I ever heard!