Twelve THE ARREST

On her return to the Three Crowns, Emily had the good fortune to runright into Mrs. Belling who was standing¹ in the hallway.
“Oh! Mrs. Belling,” she exclaimed. “I am leaving this afternoon.”
“Yes, Miss. By the four ten train to Exeter, Miss?”
“No, I am going up to Sittaford.”
“To Sittaford?”
Mrs. Belling’s countenance³ showed the most lively curiosity.
“Yes, and I wanted to ask you if you knew of anywhere there where Icould stay.”
“You want to stay up there?”
The curiosity was heightened.
“Yes, that is—Oh! Mrs. Belling, is there somewhere I could speak to youprivately for a moment?”
With something like alacrity⁴ Mrs. Belling led the way to her own privatesanctum. A small comfortable room with a large fire burning.
“You won’t tell anyone, will you?” began Emily, knowing well that of allopenings on earth this one is the most certain to provoke interest andsympathy.
“No, indeed, Miss, that I won’t,” said Mrs. Belling her dark eyes aglitterwith interest.
“You see, Mr. Pearson—you know—”
“The young gentleman that stayed here on Friday? And that the policehave arrested?”
“Arrested? Do you mean really arrested?”
“Yes, Miss. Not half an hour ago.”
Emily had gone very white.
“You—you’re sure of that?”
“Oh! yes, Miss. Our Amy had it from the Sergeant⁵.”
“It’s too awful!” said Emily. She had been expecting this, but it was nonethe better for that. “You see, Mrs. Belling, I—I’m engaged to him. And hedidn’t do it, and, oh dear, it’s all too dreadful!”
And here Emily began to cry. She had, earlier in the day, announced herintention to Charles Enderby of doing so, but what appalled⁷ her so waswith what ease the tears came. To cry at will is not an easy accomplish-ment. There was something much too real about these tears. It frightenedher. She mustn’t really give way. Giving way wasn’t the least use to Jim. Tobe

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