Where 's Anna ? '' The pent-up retribution of two years descended on Alma 's head in the last question of Gilbert 's . But she did not flinch . She stood straight before him , tall and fair and pale , with the red maple light streaming in through the open door behind her , staining her light house-dress and mellowing the golden sheen of her hair . Gilbert reflected that Alma Williams was really a very handsome girl . These two years had improved her . What splendid big grey eyes she had ! He had always wished that Anna 's eyes had not been quite so black . `` Anna is not here , '' said Alma . `` She is married . '' `` Married ! '' Gilbert sat down suddenly on a chair and looked at Alma in bewilderment . `` She has been married for a year , '' said Alma steadily . `` She married Charlie Moore of East Exeter , and has been living there ever since . '' `` Then , '' said Gilbert , laying hold of the one solid fact that loomed out of the mist of his confused understanding , `` why did she keep on writing letters to me after she was married ? '' `` She never wrote to you at all . It was I that wrote the letters . '' Gilbert looked at Alma doubtfully . Was she crazy ? There was something odd about her , now that he noticed , as she stood rigidly there , with that queer red spot on her face , a strange fire in her eyes , and that weird reflection from the maple enveloping her like an immaterial flame .
`` I do n't understand , '' he XXXXX helplessly .
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