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CHAPTER XXXI

ALISON’S PLAN WORKS OUT

“Cold, grey dawn breaks over the cold, grey city.
 Pitiless light of dawn,
Why did you call me back to a stranger’s pity
 And to a stranger’s scorn?

“Back comes the nightmare Past with its dim, uncertain
 Fears where I groped perplexed;—
God, shall I never be able to draw the curtain
Down upon what came next?

“Phantoms of haunting Terrors, crouching and creeping,
 Eager to spring and slay! . . .
Why did you wake me? Could you not leave me sleeping,
 Pitiless light of day?”

Pamela’s third day in Brisbane broke grey and cloudy. She woke unrefreshed, and immediately the memory of the night before rushed back upon her. One thing was clear she could accept no further kindness from Mrs. Taylor. “Though I don’t suppose she will want me to be governess to her sister’s children now,” thought the poor child. “Since she believes that, of course she can’t recommend me. . . . If only I need never see her again.”

She went down very late to breakfast, hoping to avoid a meeting, and met Mrs. Taylor in the hall, ready dressed to go out.

“Good morning, Miss Learmonth. I was just coming up to ask if you were ill again. I am just off, as you see, and may be out to lunch. Good-bye for the present.”

She vanished. Pamela ate no breakfast and went out directly afterwards. The day was not inviting, but she

could think better in the open air, and it was obvious that

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