MrsClements，nevertheless，followedherprivatelyoneachoccasionwhenshewenttothelake，without，however，venturingnearenoughtotheboat-housetobewitnessofwhattookplacethere。WhenAnnereturnedforthelasttimefromthedangerousneighbourhood，thefatigueofwalking，dayafterday，distanceswhichwerefartoogreatforherstrength，addedtotheexhaustingeffectoftheagitationfromwhichshehadsuffered，producedtheresultwhichMrsClementshaddreadedallalong。TheoldpainovertheheartandtheothersymptomsoftheillnessatGrimsbyreturned，andAnnewasconfinedtoherbedinthecottage。
　　Inthisemergencythefirstnecessity，asMrsClementsknewbyexperience，wastoendeavourtoquietAnne’sanxietyofmind，andforthispurposethegoodwomanwentherselfthenextdaytothelake，totryifshecouldfindLadyGlydewhowouldbesure，asAnnesaid，totakeherdailywalktotheboat-house，andprevailonhertocomebackprivatelytothecottagenearSandon。OnreachingtheoutskirtsoftheplantationMrsClementsencountered，notLadyGlyde，butatall，stout，elderlygentleman，withabookinhishand——inotherwords，CountFosco。
　　TheCount，afterlookingatherveryattentivelyforamoment，askedifsheexpectedtoseeanyoneinthatplace，andadded，beforeshecouldreply，thathewaswaitingtherewithamessagefromLadyGlyde，butthathewasnotquitecertainwhetherthepersonthenbeforehimansweredthedescriptionofthepersonwithwhomhewasdesiredtocommunicate。
　　UponthisMrsClementsatonceconfidedhererrandtohim，andentreatedthathewouldhelptoallayAnne’sanxietybytrustinghismessagetoher。
　　TheCountmostreadilyandkindlycompliedwithherrequest。Themessage，hesaid，wasaveryimportantone。LadyGlydeentreatedAnneandhergoodfriendtoreturnimmediatelytoLondon，asshefeltcertainthatSirPercivalwoulddiscoverthemiftheyremainedanylongerintheneighbourhoodofBlackwater。ShewasherselfgoingtoLondoninashorttime，andifMrsClementsandAnnewouldgotherefirst，andwouldletherknowwhattheiraddresswas，theyshouldhearfromherandseeherinafortnightorless。
　　TheCountaddedthathehadalreadyattemptedtogiveafriendlywarningtoAnneherself，butthatshehadbeentoomuchstartledbyseeingthathewasastrangertolethimapproachandspeaktoher。
　　TothisMrsClementsreplied，inthegreatestalarmanddistress，thatsheaskednothingbetterthantotakeAnnesafelytoLondon，butthattherewasnopresenthopeofremovingherfromthedangerousneighbourhood，asshelayillinherbedatthatmoment。TheCountinquiredifMrsClementshadsentformedicaladvice，andhearingthatshehadhithertohesitatedtodoso，fromthefearofmakingtheirpositionpubliclyknowninthevillage，informedherthathewashimselfamedicalman，andthathewouldgobackwithherifshepleased，andseewhatcouldbedoneforAnne。MrsClementsfeelinganaturalconfidenceintheCount，asapersontrustedwithasecretmessagefromLadyGlydegratefullyacceptedtheoffer，andtheywentbacktogethertothecottage。
　　Annewasasleepwhentheygotthere。TheCountstartedatthesightofherevidentlyfromastonishmentatherresemblancetoLadyGlyde。
　　PoorMrsClementssupposedthathewasonlyshockedtoseehowillshewas。Hewouldnotallowhertobeawakened——hewascontentedwithputtingquestionstoMrsClementsabouthersymptoms，withlookingather，andwithlightlytouchingherpulse。Sandonwasalargeenoughplacetohaveagrocer’sanddruggist’sshopinit，andthithertheCountwenttowritehisprescriptionandtogetthemedicinemadeup。Hebroughtitbackhimself，andtoldMrsClementsthatthemedicinewasapowerfulstimulant，andthatitwouldcertainlygiveAnnestrengthtogetupandbearthefatigueofajourneytoLondonofonlyafewhours。Theremedywastobeadministeredatstatedtimesonthatdayandonthedayafter。Onthethirddayshewouldbewellenoughtotravel，andhearrangedtomeetMrsClementsattheBlackwaterstation，andtoseethemoffbythemid-daytrain。IftheydidnotappearhewouldassumethatAnnewasworse，andwouldproceedatoncetothecottage。
　　Aseventsturnedout，nosuchemergencyasthisoccurred。
　　ThismedicinehadanextraordinaryeffectonAnne，andthegoodresultsofitwerehelpedbytheassuranceMrsClementscouldnowgiveherthatshewouldsoonseeLadyGlydeinLondon。AttheappointeddayandtimewhentheyhadnotbeenquitesolongasaweekinHampshirealtogether，theyarrivedatthestation。TheCountwaswaitingthereforthem，andwastalkingtoanelderlylady，whoappearedtobegoingtotravelbythetraintoLondonalso。Hemostkindlyassistedthem，andputthemintothecarriagehimself，beggingMrsClementsnottoforgettosendheraddresstoLadyGlyde。Theelderlyladydidnottravelinthesamecompartment，andtheydidnotnoticewhatbecameofheronreachingtheLondonterminus。
　　MrsClementssecuredrespectablelodgingsinaquietneighbourhood，andthenwrote，asshehadengagedtodo，toinformLadyGlydeoftheaddress。
　　Alittlemorethanafortnightpassed，andnoanswercame。
　　Attheendofthattimealadythesameelderlyladywhomtheyhadseenatthestationcalledinacab，andsaidthatshecamefromLadyGlyde，whowasthenatanhotelinLondon，andwhowishedtoseeMrsClements，forthepurposeofarrangingafutureinterviewwithAnne。MrsClementsexpressedherwillingnessAnnebeingpresentatthetime，andentreatinghertodosotoforwardtheobjectinview，especiallyasshewasnotrequiredtobeawayfromthehouseformorethanhalfanhouratthemost。
　　SheandtheelderlyladyclearlyMadameFoscothenleftinthecab。Theladystoppedthecab，afterithaddrivensomedistance，atashopbeforetheygottothehotel，andbeggedMrsClementstowaitforherforafewminuteswhileshemadeapurchasethathadbeenforgotten。Sheneverappearedagain。
　　AfterwaitingsometimeMrsClementsbecamealarmed，andorderedthecabmantodrivebacktoherlodgings。Whenshegotthere，afteranabsenceofrathermorethanhalfanhour，Annewasgone。
　　Theonlyinformationtobeobtainedfromthepeopleofthehousewasderivedfromtheservantwhowaitedonthelodgers。Shehadopenedthedoortoaboyfromthestreet，whohadleftaletterfor`theyoungwomanwholivedonthesecondfloor’thepartofthehousewhichMrsClementsoccupied。Theservanthaddeliveredtheletter，hadthengonedownstairs，andfiveminutesafterwardshadobservedAnneopenthefrontdoorandgooutdressedinherbonnetandshawl。Shehadprobablytakentheletterwithher，foritwasnottobefound，anditwasthereforeimpossibletotellwhatinducementhadbeenofferedtomakeherleavethehouse。Itmusthavebeenastrongone，forshewouldneverstiroutaloneinLondonofherownaccord。IfMrsClementshadnotknownthisbyexperiencenothingwouldhaveinducedhertogoawayinthecab，evenforsoshortatimeashalfanhouronly。
　　Assoonasshecouldcollectherthoughts，thefirstideathatnaturallyoccurredtoMrsClementswastogoandmakeinquiriesattheAsylum，towhichshedreadedthatAnnehadbeentakenback。
　　Shewenttherethenextday，havingbeeninformedofthelocalityinwhichthehousewassituatedbyAnneherself。TheanswershereceivedherapplicationhavinginallprobabilitybeenmadeadayortwobeforethefalseAnneCatherickhadreallybeenconsignedtosafekeepingintheAsylum
　　was，thatnosuchpersonhadbeenbroughtbackthere。ShehadthenwrittentoMrsCatherickatWelminghamtoknowifshehadseenorheardanythingofherdaughter，andhadreceivedananswerinthenegative。Afterthatreplyhadreachedher，shewasattheendofherresources，andperfectlyignorantwhereelsetoinquireorwhatelsetodo。FromthattimetothisshehadremainedintotalignoranceofthecauseofAnne’sdisappearanceandoftheendofAnne’sstory。
　　[NextChapter][TableofContents]WomaninWhite：Chapter31[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter31PREAMBLEThusfartheinformationwhichIhadreceivedfromMrsClements——thoughitestablishedfactsofwhichIhadnotpreviouslybeenaware——wasofapreliminarycharacteronly。
　　ItwasclearthattheseriesofdeceptionswhichhadremovedAnneCathericktoLondon，andseparatedherfromMrsClements，hadbeenaccomplishedsolelybyCountFoscoandtheCountess，andthequestionwhetheranypartoftheconductofhusbandorwifehadbeenofakindtoplaceeitherofthemwithinreachofthelawmightbewellworthyoffutureconsideration。ButthepurposeIhadnowinviewledmeinanotherdirectionthanthis。TheimmediateobjectofmyvisittoMrsClementswastomakesomeapproachatleasttothediscoveryofSirPercival’ssecret，andshehadsaidnothingasyetwhichadvancedmeonmywaytothatimportantend。Ifeltthenecessityoftryingtoawakenherrecollectionsofothertimes，persons，andeventsthanthoseonwhichhermemoryhadhithertobeenemployed，andwhenInextspokeIspokewiththatobjectindirectlyinview。
　　`IwishIcouldbeofanyhelptoyouinthissadcalamity，’Isaid。
　　`AllIcandoistofeelheartilyforyourdistress。IfAnnehadbeenyourownchild，MrsClements，youcouldhaveshownhernotruerkindness——
　　youcouldhavemadenoreadiersacrificesforhersake。’
　　`There’snogreatmeritinthat，sir，’saidMrsClementssimply。`Thepoorthingwasasgoodasmyownchildtome。Inursedherfromababy，sir，bringingherupbyhand——andahardjobitwastorearher。Itwouldn’tgotomyheartsotoloseherifIhadn’tmadeherfirstshortclothesandtaughthertowalk。Ialwayssaidshewassenttoconsolemeforneverhavingchickorchildofmyown。Andnowshe’slosttheoldtimeskeepcomingbacktomymind，andevenatmyageIcan’thelpcryingabouther——Ican’tindeed，sir！’
　　IwaitedalittletogiveMrsClementstimetocomposeherself。WasthelightthatIhadbeenlookingforsolongglimmeringonme——faroff，asyet——inthegoodwoman’srecollectionsofAnne’searlylife？
　　`DidyouknowMrsCatherickbeforeAnnewasborn？’Iasked。
　　`Notverylong，sir——notabovefourmonths。Wesawagreatdealofeachotherinthattime，butwewereneververyfriendlytogether。’
　　Hervoicewassteadierasshemadethatreply。Painfulasmanyofherrecollectionsmightbe，Iobservedthatitwasunconsciouslyarelieftohermindtoreverttothedimly-seentroublesofthepast，afterdwellingsolongonthevividsorrowsofthepresent。
　　`WereyouandMrsCatherickneighbours？’Iinquired，leadinghermemoryonasencouraginglyasIcould。
　　`Yes，sir——neighboursatOldWelmingham。’
　　`OldWelmingham？Therearetwoplacesofthatname，then，inHampshire？’