Page:The Fruit of the Tree (Wharton 1907).djvu/273

Rh unrest which he had brought away from his last Lynbrook visit; and this reminiscence made him ask Miss Brent, when her list was ended, if she did not think that so continuous a succession of visitors was too tiring for Bessy.

“I sometimes think it tires her more than she knows; but I hope she can be persuaded to take better care of herself now that Mrs. Ansell has come back.”

Amherst halted abruptly. “Is Mrs. Ansell here?”

“She arrived from Europe today.”

“And Mr. Langhope too, I suppose?”

“Yes. He came from Newport about ten days ago.”

Amherst checked himself, conscious that his questions betrayed the fact that he and his wife no longer wrote to each other. The same thought appeared to strike Justine, and they walked across the lawn in silence, hastening their steps involuntarily, as though to escape the oppressive weight of the words which had passed between them. But Justine was unwilling that this fruitless sense of oppression should be the ﬁnal outcome of their talk; and when they reached the upper terrace she paused and turned impulsively to Amherst. As she did so, the light from an uncurtained window fell on her face, which glowed with the inner brightness kindled in it by moments of strong feeling.

“I am sure of one thing—Bessy will be very, very glad that you have come,” she exclaimed. [ 257 ]