MrsClements，nevertheless，followedherprivatelyoneachoccasionwhenshewenttothelake，without，however，venturingnearenoughtotheboat-housetobewitnessofwhattookplacethere。WhenAnnereturnedforthelasttimefromthedangerousneighbourhood，thefatigueofwalking，dayafterday，distanceswhichwerefartoogreatforherstrength，addedtotheexhaustingeffectoftheagitationfromwhichshehadsuffered，producedtheresultwhichMrsClementshaddreadedallalong。TheoldpainovertheheartandtheothersymptomsoftheillnessatGrimsbyreturned，andAnnewasconfinedtoherbedinthecottage。
Inthisemergencythefirstnecessity，asMrsClementsknewbyexperience，wastoendeavourtoquietAnne’sanxietyofmind，andforthispurposethegoodwomanwentherselfthenextdaytothelake，totryifshecouldfindLadyGlyde(whowouldbesure，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。MrsClements(feelinganaturalconfidenceintheCount，asapersontrustedwithasecretmessagefromLadyGlyde)gratefullyacceptedtheoffer，andtheywentbacktogethertothecottage。
Annewasasleepwhentheygotthere。TheCountstartedatthesightofher(evidentlyfromastonishmentatherresemblancetoLadyGlyde)。
PoorMrsClementssupposedthathewasonlyshockedtoseehowillshewas。Hewouldnotallowhertobeawakened——hewascontentedwithputtingquestionstoMrsClementsabouthersymptoms，withlookingather，andwithlightlytouchingherpulse。Sandonwasalargeenoughplacetohaveagrocer’sanddruggist’sshopinit，andthithertheCountwenttowritehisprescriptionandtogetthemedicinemadeup。Hebroughtitbackhimself，andtoldMrsClementsthatthemedicinewasapowerfulstimulant，andthatitwouldcertainlygiveAnnestrengthtogetupandbearthefatigueofajourneytoLondonofonlyafewhours。Theremedywastobeadministeredatstatedtimesonthatdayandonthedayafter。Onthethirddayshewouldbewellenoughtotravel，andhearrangedtomeetMrsClementsattheBlackwaterstation，andtoseethemoffbythemid-daytrain。IftheydidnotappearhewouldassumethatAnnewasworse，andwouldproceedatoncetothecottage。
Aseventsturnedout，nosuchemergencyasthisoccurred。
ThismedicinehadanextraordinaryeffectonAnne，andthegoodresultsofitwerehelpedbytheassuranceMrsClementscouldnowgiveherthatshewouldsoonseeLadyGlydeinLondon。Attheappointeddayandtime(whentheyhadnotbeenquitesolongasaweekinHampshirealtogether)，theyarrivedatthestation。TheCountwaswaitingthereforthem，andwastalkingtoanelderlylady，whoappearedtobegoingtotravelbythetraintoLondonalso。Hemostkindlyassistedthem，andputthemintothecarriagehimself，beggingMrsClementsnottoforgettosendheraddresstoLadyGlyde。Theelderlyladydidnottravelinthesamecompartment，andtheydidnotnoticewhatbecameofheronreachingtheLondonterminus。
MrsClementssecuredrespectablelodgingsinaquietneighbourhood，andthenwrote，asshehadengagedtodo，toinformLadyGlydeoftheaddress。
Alittlemorethanafortnightpassed，andnoanswercame。
Attheendofthattimealady(thesameelderlyladywhomtheyhadseenatthestation)calledinacab，andsaidthatshecamefromLadyGlyde，whowasthenatanhotelinLondon，andwhowishedtoseeMrsClements，forthepurposeofarrangingafutureinterviewwithAnne。MrsClementsexpressedherwillingness(Annebeingpresentatthetime，andentreatinghertodoso)toforwardtheobjectinview，especiallyasshewasnotrequiredtobeawayfromthehouseformorethanhalfanhouratthemost。
Sheandtheelderlylady(clearlyMadameFosco)thenleftinthecab。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。Theanswershereceived(herapplicationhavinginallprobabilitybeenmadeadayortwobeforethefalseAnneCatherickhadreallybeenconsignedtosafekeepingintheAsylum)
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？’
