"I will do nothing, dear, to annoy you," she said, and took Anne's hand, and hid the tears that were beginning to fall over her cheeks.
"I want to know something, Blanche.

Will you tell me ?" "Yes.

What is it ?" "Who are the gentlemen staying in the house ?" Blanche looked round at her again, in sudden astonishment and alarm.
A vague fear seized her that Anne's mind had given way under the heavy weight of trouble laid on it.

Anne persisted in pressing her strange request.
"Run over their names, Blanche.

I have a reason for wishing to know who the gentlemen are who are staying in the house." Blanche repeated the names of Lady Lundie's guests, leaving to the last the guests who had arrived last.
"Two more came back this morning," she went on.