Thecookhadacceptedthealternativewhichhermistress’smessagehadplacedbeforeher，ifsheinsistedonhavingherowntimeatherownsoledisposalfortherestofthatday。ExactlyasLadyLundiehaddesired，sheintimatedherresolutiontocarryherpointbyplacingheraccount-bookonthedeskinthelibrary。
ItwasonlywhenthishadbeendonethatBlanchereceivedanyanswertoherentreatiesforhelp。SlowlyanddeliberatelyHesterDethridgewalkeduptothespotwheretheyounggirlkneltwithAnne’sheadonherbosom，andlookedatthetwowithoutatraceofhumanemotioninhersternandstonyface。
“Don’tyouseewhat’shappened？“criedBlanche。“Areyoualiveordead？Oh，Hester，Ican’tbringherto!Lookather!lookather!“
HesterDethridgelookedather，andshookherhead。Lookedagain，thoughtforawhileandwroteonherslate。HeldouttheslateoverAnne’sbody，andshowedwhatshehadwritten：
“Whohasdoneit？“