Wolf and the Wanderer, part one

                I can imagine what his face looked like as he stared down at his cards. What must have been going through his mind when he ogled his hand in disbelief? He wasn’t a wealthy man, but he could be, he must have thought. He would have imagined his wife never having to work in the hospital again. He imagined his beautiful daughters never having to be embarrassed by their poor useless father ever again. He would have seen himself not being looked down upon, being respected, being acknowledged. He could be the man he had always imagined he was. So I suppose there was no doubt in his mind when he put his straight flush face up on the table that he would be walking away with the whole two hundred thousand dollar pot. I’m sure he even put his hands right on it before his opposition put his hand on the table and stopped all rejoicing in its tracks. A royal flush. I can almost see him turning pale as his note gets scooped away with all the cash. As he watches the man across the table scribble out a hasty final agreement, I can see the poor fallen soul withering in despair. “What had he done?” he would think. The winner would hand over the small scrawled upon paper over to him as he sat staring dumbly into the distance.

                I can easily imagine all these things, but I wasn’t there, I don’t know what really happened. I can only ever imagine what might drive a man like Nathan Weber to place his forsaken bet like he did. The little note that Nathan had quickly jotted down on a spare scrap of paper was not for money he did not have, nor was it for his house or car. No the note contain a far more precious commodity for wagering. Nathan Weber bet his oldest daughter away in the vain hope of wealth.

This I know for certain, because I was there when he stumbled in from a long binge and passed out onto the floor of his little trailer. I saw as his wife burst into tears and slapped him again and again, and he just took it. I was there as he held his wife tightly in his arms and promised he would fix everything. I was there when he paced back and forth trying with his entire mite to figure a way out of his precarious situation, and I was there when he found none. I know this for certain because I stood watching as he stood outside his daughter’s room quiet tears streaming down his face.

For all this I was there, and so I know what decision my friends came to because I helped them to arrive at it. I offered to go in their daughter’s place. There was a long argument at first, but their love of their daughter out lasted their love of me. And so in the morning Nathan drove me to the location on the tiny written agreement given to Nathan the night before, and I hugged him as though he were my father, and I cried as though never seeing him again was the worst thing to ever happen to me, and I pretended that I was disappointed that he didn’t chase after the car when it pulled away and down the street towards the highway. I watched him out the back window for a while as he disappeared from site.

Now, though, I’m sitting on a plane heading God knows where, and Nathan and his wife and their daughters are hours behind me. I could say that this is a terrible sacrifice, but it would be a lie. I had nothing to lose really. I had a job that I hated, no real friends, other than Mrs. Weber, to speak of, and no prospects for the future. Really being sweep away to an unknown location was the highlight of my week. I sat back in the seat and again surveyed my surroundings. A private jet, beautifully furnished and staffed. I had one bag stuffed with a few meager belongings that left a stain in the picturesque view of the cabin. I stared out the window once more, watching the world drift by thousands of feet below.

There hadn’t been a lot of fuss when Nathan handed me over. They just put me in a car and drove me to the airport. And from the airport they put me on the jet and sent me on my way. They didn’t ask my name, or my age, I’m starting to believe they really didn’t care. I dig through my bag and pull out my lap top. I spend several hours playing every game on my computer. What more could I do, the staff wouldn’t come talk to me other than to offer yet another beverage or snack,  and other than them and the pilots there is no one else present on the craft. I was unsettled by this at first, but I’ve grown rather fond of the absence of people. I stretch out across the whole row of seats and turn on music and try not worry about any of it. A stewardess brings me some more refreshments and I enjoy myself rather thoroughly on my own private jet.

Eventually though the plane lands and I’m whisked away once more in a big black sedan like foreign dignitaries ride in. No one sat in back with me and there was a darkened glass window between me and the driver, so again I was alone. I watched the city, then the houses, then the trees rush by beyond the glass. The further the car traveled the less there was, and though I was curious where we were going I wasn’t really worried about what the destination might be. I was having an adventure, I told myself, and in adventures you don’t worry about what might happen, you just go with the flow. The car slowed out in the middle of the woods, and turned slowly onto a long dirt road. It was several minutes before I realized that it wasn’t a road at all, but rather an exceptionally long driveway.

I started getting anxious as a house appeared in the distance. It was a large house, a mansion, more like a castle. As the vehicle pulled through the gate I looked up at the… residence and saw the whole three stories of it loaming over me. It was quite impressive. The driver pulled right up to the front door where a fleet of household staff stood waiting to receive me. That seems so odd that anyone would be receiving me. I was greeted by foreign accents when the car stopped. They sounded English and I tried to think back to if I had crossed an ocean to get here. I was helped out of the car like a princess going to the ball and people tried to relieve me of my bag, but I wouldn’t have it. My bag was the only thing that was mine anymore and no power on this earth was going to separate it from me. I was shown into the house, and inside was possibly more immense than outside. I stumbled in awe past the pillars and statues of the grandest design. I clutched my bag of ridiculous little things closer to me for fear we might all be swallowed up by the estate’s grandeur. I was shown to a massive bed room and informed that I was to sleep here and a servant would be available to go for anything I might need.

 I stared in disbelief at the great hall someone had been stupid enough to designate as a bed room. I walked in and nearly became lost in the massive space. The ceiling had to be at least fifteen feet high, and the square footage was enough to nestle my entire childhood home. I walked across the shinning marble floor towards the windows covered over by large heavy velvet curtains. With great effort I pulled the floor length folds of fabric back to let in the golden light of day. The windows opened onto a large veranda. I pushed open the glass door and walked out into the bright sunny air. As far as the eye could see was beautiful forest with trees as high as the balcony. I looked out over the estate in ever more impressed awe. I was going to live here? How did I rate?

Someone cleared his throat to get my attention and I swung around still in partial shock.

“The Master will see you now,” he said as he waved me back in from the terrace. I followed him down a hall and up some stairs and through a corridor and up yet another flight of stairs before coming to a stop outside a door. It wasn’t a particularly grand part of the house. It seemed like servant’s quarters to me, but the man ahead tidied himself quickly in preparation to meet his employer. He knocked three times very distinctly, and a deep gravelly voice told him to enter.

He stepped aside and pushed open the door, so I could enter. I didn’t bother asking him if he was coming too, because it was apparent he had no intention of going in the room unless he absolutely had to. I side stepped in and watched the man pull the door closed behind me without looking in. I waited for a moment half expecting him to come back, but his steps quickly disappeared down the hall. I turned my attention to the room. There was no one there that I could see. There was desk with an empty chair, books sitting on shelves against every wall. One window let insufficient light into the room. There was a chair facing the desk and so I took it assuming that the “Master” would soon arrive to inspect me. I sat in a spare chair in the corner with my bag on my lap for several minute, and yet he did not come. I started getting bored, so I got up and looked at the books lining the walls. There were books of every genre, and every age. I would pull one book off the shelf and it would be a Stephen King novel, the next would be an ancient looking manuscript written in what I could only guess was Latin.

As I thumbed through another novel in a language I could not read a gravelly voice behind me asked, “Do you like to read?”

I jumped so much that I dropped the book, and bumped in to the book case which sent many precariously perched books flying down around me. I scanned the room again, now in a slight panic, but still I saw no one.

“Excuse me?”

There was movement behind the shelves on the other side of the desk. I hadn’t realized it was a false wall, but now I could clearly see the form moving back and forth behind a screen. I quickly gathered the books that had fallen onto the floor and pushed them back onto the bookcase. I went back to the chair and watched as the shape on the other side of the shelves settled into stillness.

“The books?” it said.

“Oh…” I looked over my shoulder at the disheveled bookcase, “I… um… It’s an interesting collection, a lot of different things.”

“I collect books,” the voice replied. It was deep and rumbled until it sounded almost like a growl.

I nodded as I watched the shadow against the shelves. It walked back and forth as though it were pacing. The form was massive, extending clear to the top of the shelves. I hoped it was just a play of the light.

“What other sort of things do you collect,” I asked as the form followed a very distinct path behind the shelves.

It took pause at this and seemed to contemplate the question thoroughly.

“You are not being collected,” it finally said.

“Then what am I here for?” I asked genuinely interested. No one had bothered to explain to me what my purpose in being here.

The form remained motionless. I could tell that the figure was contemplating me at the same time I was trying to comprehend it. Then it suddenly resumed its pacing back and forth along the book shelf.

“How did you come to be here?” it asked me.

“How… don’t you know?”

“I was only informed of your arrival, nothing more.”

I thought carefully about what to say, but nothing seemed right. The truth was a lie in my case.

“I don’t know what to say…”

“I find that the truth tends to make the best story.”

I watched the form move slowly to a stop near the window side of the book case. It stood very still as I gathered up the facts of my arrival in this screwy situation.

“I was won in a card game,” was the first thing that came to mind as relevant information.

The figure turned abruptly from its pacing and let out a very distinct growl that sent me cowering against the desk.

“That will not do,” the gravelly voice roared, “I don’t want someone who does not care to be here.”

“It was my choice to be here,” I said stupidly, “I took the place of my god-daughter… There was a card game. I was at my friend Kathy’s house when her husband stumbled in drunk out of his mind going on about, ‘what did I do?’, ‘how could I do it?’ and such. He wagered his oldest daughter against two hundred thousand dollars. His oldest daughter is sixteen. Nate was scared out of his mind, he seemed sure that if they didn’t follow through that the guy would hurt or even kill his family. Kathy was crying so hard and Nate crying so hard, and I couldn’t just let that poor kid go off God knows where, possibly never to be heard of again. So, I took her place. Nate dropped me off this morning and they took me away without any questions. I was only chance that I had been there that night in the first place. And that’s the truth.”

The pacing form stood still listening the whole time. When I had finished it remained completely still against the bookcase. I heard steps move away from the shelves and the heavy sound of a body falling into a chair.

“You sacrificed yourself for her sake,” and it wasn’t a question.

“How long am I suppose to stay?” I asked suddenly.

“You can leave at anytime,” the form replied, “But I do hope you consent to stay for at least a short while.”

“I have some vacation time… so I suppose I can miss work for a few days. Why not.”

 “You don’t have people that would miss you?”

“My parents’ maybe,” I thought a moment, “Maybe Kathy, but that’s about it.”

I could hear the person sigh, “No betrothed?”

I giggled at such an archaic term, “No, no boyfriend for me, couldn’t get one if I wanted.”

“Why not?”

“You’ve been staring at me for a while, isn’t it obvious,” I laughed, “I’m hideous.”

He snorted loudly, “I say not! I find you to be quite lovely.”

“It’s a terrible lie… but thank you.”

I leaned back in the chair and watched the wall. The form remained quite still.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

The shape moved restlessly where it sat. He was trying to think of a proper response. And was obviously having difficulty deciding upon one.

“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but then I’ll have to make up a name for you and it won’t be pleasant.”

There was a slight sigh like sound followed by, “You may call me Mr. Wolfe, if you wish.”

I nodded satisfied with the name, “and you may call me Julie.”

There was another sigh, but it was more contented than the first. Wolfe stood from his seat and I watched as the form move along the bookcase.

“If you should need anything at all Ms. Julie, than please do not hesitate to ask one of the servants,” he said as the door to the room swung carefully open.

“Thank you Mr. Wolfe,” I replied as I stood. His shape disappeared from the bookcase and I was shown out and back to my room.

After my servant left, I took a shower in the opulent bathroom. There were so many soaps to choose from. It was better than staying at a five star hotel. When I peeked my head into the bed room my clothes had been taken and replaced with a set of exquisite silk pajamas. I looked at the bright blue shirt and pant set. Stupidly I wished I had my own night shirt that I had forgotten to pack. I rummaged through my meager belongings and found something more suitable in my eyes, an over sized tee shirt.

                I flopped upon my new bed in my new home wondering what new things would happen to me next, and if I’d be able to handle them. My one bag of old things sat open on the covers next to me. I still wasn’t exactly sure what was expected of me, but I was fairly certain that it wasn’t anything of an explicit nature. So I that gave me some leave to relax. I had pulled out my computer and tried to get wireless, but it was security keyed. To be honest I was surprised to get any at all. I sorted out my few tacky little things into groups of ‘why did I bring this shit’, ‘why did I bring this crap’, and ‘clothes’. I found that the clothes pile was significantly smaller than the other two. I ran my fingers through my hair trying to make sense of my day. Somehow I had gone from a normal boring existence to one of complete uncertainty in a matter of hours. How could my luck be this bad?

                I rolled off the bed and made my way to the balcony outside of my window. The sun was setting over the dense forest. I hadn’t seen trees like this since my childhood. I remember always being surrounded by trees as a kid, but I moved to a city where the nearest trees were behind bars. I watched the stars start popping out like pin pricks in black velvet. It was beautiful with all the purples and pinks, but it was still nothing compared to the magnificence of the moon. I’ve always loved the moon. It has always been a warm light on cold nights. It’s a smiling face when I need a friend. When I look at the moon, I don’t feel so alone. So I looked up at my old friend and shared in the madness of my new life.

                While I was reminiscing to the moon a servant came to the balcony door behind me. I could feel him there watching me because the moon kept looking over my shoulder, but I didn’t let it distract me. I finished my silent conversation before I looked to see who would intrude on my private moment. He didn’t look like much, just a young thin guy, not much older than me. I leaned against the railing as we sized each other up fully. Brown hair, matching eyes, long lashes, good skin, tall but not obtrusively so, slender but well cut, all together not too bad on the eyes.

                “Yes?” I asked when he didn’t say anything.

                He looked me over once more before saying, “I was sent to check on you, make sure you had all you needed.”

                I pushed off the rail towards the room. I brushed past him even though the doorway was more than wide enough. I hate to admit it but he even smelled sexy. I gathered up my piles of crap and pushed them to a less obvious location. I held out my laptop, “Security key.”

                “Of course, a book will be brought up to you with all that information,” he replied, “and some more towels and soap, new clothes, dinner, and anything else you feel that you require.”

                I stared at him in disbelief, “Really? I thought that maybe I wouldn’t be allowed,” gesturing to the computer.

                “You’re not a prisoner here, Miss Julie, you’re our guest. If you should need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

                “Thank you,” I stammered, “I wasn’t sure what to expect.”

                His face was lit up with a toothy smile suddenly. He walked towards me and I couldn’t help but take a step away. His character was so intense it nearly burned against the cool stillness of the night. He continued on his blazing trail until I felt the bed hit against my legs. He stood only inches away from me, a presence bigger than life and twice as bold.

                “What do you think of him? The Master, I mean,” he asked quietly.

                I watched the glimmer in his eye shift and brighten, “I really wasn’t around him long enough to form a proper opinion,” I said, trying to remember what I could about our encounter, “I didn’t even see what he looked like.”

                “I doubt very much that you would like what you saw,” the young man said, his face darkening slightly, “He is quiet hideous.”

                “I would rather make up my own mind on the subject,” I scolded, perhaps a little too sharply. I turned back to my few pitiful belongings in an attempt to escape the power of this young man’s presence. I could feel him there very close to me. It unnerved me to the point that I turned around ready to fend him off, but when I looked he had already gone. I scanned the room expecting him to be there somewhere, but he was really and truly gone.

                I turned back to the bed and gathered all of my things into my bag and stashed it under the covers. I didn’t really think anyone was going to take my shit, but at the same time I didn’t want to give anyone the chance either. I stuck my head out the door but the hallway was empty.  It was several minutes before someone came with towels, and all the house information. I went to work informing everyone that I was going to be gone for a while as soon as my connection was made. Work needed to know, my parents, and I asked a friend to check on my house while I was out. It took me about four minutes. I was done well before dinner was brought up.

                The young servant who delivered my meal informed me in a thick brogue that she was Katie, and that she would be my personal attendant.

                As she prepared the dinner tray on a small table in the room I asked, “Katie, there was a young man here before,” she nodded knowingly, “you know him?”

                “Yes, a young roguish fellow, rather intense?” when I nodded vigorously she continued, “That would be Mr. Wolfe’s associate, Thomas.”

                I was wrong to assume the man had been a servant, and I felt foolish at how I had acted. I thought about how he looked at me. The way he talked of Mr. Wolfe.

                “I don’t much care for him.”

                Katie laughed quietly, “You wouldn’t be the only one, miss.”

                She assured me she would be back to reclaim the dishes when I finished and then departed. I ate my dinner quickly and went out onto the veranda the moon still sat quietly waiting in the sky. I silently brought up the new development in my continuing story. Life just kept getting  more interesting.

 

                When I woke up the next morning I found myself in the same incredible bed, in the same extravagant room. I blinked my eyes against the streaming sunshine of the morning breaking through the curtain. I pulled my way to the surface of the immense covers in an attempt to escape the bed. When finally I made it to standing beside the bed I staggered my way towards the window. The sun shined right into the room in the morning making further sleep nearly impossible. I watched in awe as the sun broke the horizon in a most magnificent spectacle. After the sun got high enough I came in to find my breakfast set out and Katie already gone.

                It was a lovely meal and I ate it with a vigor I could hardly fathom. When I had finished I searched the closet to find it packed with clothes in a variety of styles and sizes and the same in the dresser. I looked through the seemingly endless wardrobe until I found an acceptable outfit that was a reasonable size. Katie returned after I finished dressing, and asked if there were anything else I should require.

                “What should I do all day?” I asked expecting she might know.

                “Whatever you should like Madame,” was her only reply.

                When she took my dishes away I was left to ponder what I might do. Where could I go? Then an idea struck me. When I thought more about it the idea seemed only made more sense in my mind. So I made my way down the twisting halls and steep steps up to the master’s door. I hadn’t seen a soul all the way there. Quietly I walked to the door and pressed my ear to its surface. I couldn’t hear anything.

I poised my hand to knock when the familiar voice growled, “Who’s there?”

I was startled because it seemed very close to the door. I took several steps back unable to speak at first as a growl lingered in the air. I gathered my thoughts.

“It’s me,” I whispered.

A loud fist hit the door, “Don’t come in!”

“I wasn’t going to…” I said distractedly trying to regain my calm, “I just wanted to talk.”

A softer growl filled the air, but not as threatening as the first. I listened to a long heavy hand slide from the door.

“What am I suppose to do all day?” I asked, trying carefully to raise my voice from a coy whisper.

“Whatever you would like, Ms. Julie,” was his curt reply.

I thought more in depth about what I needed to say, “What is there to do here all day?”

A grumbling sigh arose from the other side of the door. A great weight shifted against the slight wood frame as the master contemplated. “What things do you like to do, Ms. Julie?”

I thought for a moment in return, never having been asked such a question without some attempt at leading my response, “If I’m going to be here for a while I would like to see more of the house… it seems quite old.”

“I will send for the grounds keeper, he knows everything about the property and its history. Would that satisfy you?”

“You can’t show me the house?” was all I could think to say.

The great weight again shifted as the stability of the door again came into question as it moaned in protest. I could hear his deep breath beyond the fine grain. I don’t even know what he looks like. I don’t know this man. I amended before he could reply, “The grounds keeper will suffice. Thank you.”

I moved away from the door and down the hall. “I’ll wait in my room then,” I said as I looked back at the door. I don’t know what I expected to see. He didn’t want to come out and sweep me off my feet. As far as I could tell I was more of an annoyance and inconvenience than a house guest deserving of any special attentions. I didn’t bother waiting for a reply, because I knew it wouldn’t come. I was alone in a house filled with people, and I was sure of that.

I waited several minutes in my room before a small crooked man knocked at my door. He was deeply hunched and that made him quite a bit shorter than me. He introduced himself as Richard, but I could call him Dickey if it pleased me, which it very much did. Dickey wasted no time in taking me about the grounds. He hobbled his way with great speed and it took a fair effort to keep up with him. There were the east rooms where many grand parties were once held. The mistress, Master Wolfe mother loved throwing parties. The west rooms were where the sitting rooms were located, where Master Wolfe’s father had shared drinks with gentlemen of high status. There were the upper quarters where chambers including my own could be found. There were the further upper rooms where all staff resided. And then there were the attics where the master himself chose to live. The master’s family had owned the property as a summer residence for several generation and all their fine portraits could be found in the lower galleries, which he took great pride in presenting to me. Year after year of family portraits hung on the wall all except the final and current master residing on the residence. Dickey took a sad pause before where his dear master’s portrait should have hung, but instead sat vacant. His lip trembled but he didn’t speak of the sadness it brought him.

“Maybe someday…” was all he would say on the matter, “maybe someday soon.”

He quickly fled the gallery and its subtle reminder of some dark secret, but I lingered. A family sat on satin and velvet couches and looked quite glorious and I looked in on their happy moment frozen in time. A woman beautifully dresser in a long gown sat with a infant boy perched carefully on her knee, on her shoulder rested the broad hand of the stern faced man I surmised was her husband. Everything seemed rich and bright in the portrait, and the family seemed happy. The mother clung lovingly to her baby, the husband held reassuringly to her shoulder. I looked into her eyes and felt a deep sadness that resided there. I looked at the child. Dark haired, dark eyed and smiling brilliantly. I looked at the husband and was struck by his familiar features. It seemed like I had seen his face before but I couldn’t place where. It was a strong face with enchanting frightening eyes that were trying to cast a spell on me.

I would have stood trying to discern where I had seen the face before, but noticing that I had fallen behind, Dickey came back to retrieve me. I was pulled away from the gallery onto the greater grounds. The garden, which Dickey took great pride in showing me at length, housed some of the most beautiful roses I have ever seen. There were red roses and white roses and purple roses and yellow and orange and blue and more colors than I could even begin to describe. Dick had bred most of the species himself, it had taken years to get just the right shades. He cut off a thorn less red rose. ‘A beautiful flower for a beautiful girl’ he told me. 

We walked on across the nearer grounds, ending the day at the stables. I had never spent much time around horses, but I enjoyed riding. So, the trouble of the next day’s entertainment resolved itself. So when I returned to my room I didn’t have to contemplate what I was going to do with myself. I hoped that the rest of my time here, however long that might be, would occupy itself so easily. I entered my room with an ease that I did not realize until Katie brought in my dinner. I hadn’t thought of how hopelessly strange my plight was until I had been reminded of how abstracted from my normal life I had become. She set out the immaculate platter of food. It was as though the chef knew exactly what I would like.

As Katie finished her serving, I asked if she thought Mr. Wolfe would be joining me. She gave a sympathetic smile as she shook her head.

“Master Wolfe rarely ever leaves his quarters.”

“Why?”

Katie’s smile faded. She looked away. She seemed to be checking as though she thought someone might be listening. I couldn’t help but sneak a peek around as well. It took several seconds before she was satisfied, but then she spoke again.

“I don’t like to speak badly of the master, but he is a rather frightful sight. I imagine that he stays hidden away to stay safe from the harsh eyes of the world. He’s too gentle a soul to stand up to such criticism and I fear that if he were to be received entirely badly by the public it would destroy him.”

I listened to the woman talk, but I couldn’t imagine a face so terrible as to cause a man to shut himself completely off from the world. Even if he was entirely hideous, I still wanted to see my gracious host.

“Katie,” I probed, “Do you think Mr. Wolfe would consent to have dinner with me tomorrow night?”

She looked me square in the eye, as though trying to read my thoughts and know my intentions before replying, “I’m sure I don’t know Miss.”

She cleared away the place settings after I had finished and I was left alone to contemplate my next move. I would go and see Wolfe again in the morning, and ask him if he would eat dinner with me. The worse he could say is no, right?

There was a knock at my door as a sat going through my rather disappointing emails. No one even seemed to notice that I had gone. I didn’t look up from the computer until the door opened and in stepped young Thomas. I could feel my breath catch in my throat. I had hoped that he wouldn’t come back, but I suppose that was stupid considering he worked here.

“I came to ask how your day was,” he said as a smile spread across his face, “Your first full day on the property.”

“My day was fine,” I said a little too shortly.

“That’s good, I’m sure old Wolfe will be happy to hear it.”

He looked about the room as though very interested in the decor. I watched him as he moved about examining furniture and curtains, and being very careful not to pay attention to me. He didn’t seem nervous, or anxious, quite the contrary rather. I’m sure he felt like he was being debonair and bold. Even so, all I could think about was what he said about my host.

“Thomas?” he looked at me with probing eyes, as I had forgotten that he wouldn’t know that I had learned his name, but still I continued, “Do you think that Mr. Wolfe would have dinner with me.”

After recovering from the shock of realizing that he didn’t know everything, he thought a moment. He tried to regain some of his previous nonchalant air as he strode around stroking his chin in a quizzical manner.

“He’s a very busy man,” he began, “I doubt he could be called away from his business for such a trivial matter.”

I found that disappointing news, but I also found the source to be rather unreliable. I bid him good night. He left with barely another word, which surprised me. I was sure he would try to trick me into telling him who had told me his name.

I put everything away and got ready for bed. I looked out at the moon again. It still shinned down on me with a bright happy fullness, as though its peak had not already ebbed. I told her again of my crazy life, and she listened silent and intent.