Chapter 10

           ForCamgrazedtheeaselbyaninch;shewouldnotstopforMr.BankesandLilyBriscoe;thoughMr.Bankes,whowouldhavelikedadaughterofhisown,heldouthishand;shewouldnotstopforherfather,whomshegrazedalsobyaninch;norforhermother,whocalled"Cam!Iwantyouamoment!"asshedashedpast.Shewasofflikeabird,bullet,orarrow,impelledbywhatdesire,shotbywhom,atwhatdirected,whocouldsay?What,what?Mrs.Ramsaypondered,watchingher.Itmightbeavision—ofashell,ofawheelbarrow,ofafairykingdomonthefarsideofthehedge;oritmightbethegloryofspeed;nooneknew.ButwhenMrs.Ramsaycalled"Cam!"asecondtime,theprojectiledroppedinmidcareer,andCamcamelaggingback,pullingaleafbytheway,tohermother.

           Whatwasshedreamingabout,Mrs.Ramsaywondered,seeingherengrossed,asshestoodthere,withsomethoughtofherown,sothatshehadtorepeatthemessagetwice—askMildredifAndrew,MissDoyle,andMr.Rayleyhavecomeback?—Thewordsseemedtobedroppedintoawell,where,ifthewaterswereclear,theywerealsosoextraordinarilydistortingthat,evenastheydescended,onesawthemtwistingabouttomakeHeavenknowswhatpatternonthefloorofthechild’smind.WhatmessagewouldCamgivethecook?Mrs.Ramsaywondered.Andindeeditwasonlybywaitingpatiently,andhearingthattherewasanoldwomaninthekitchenwithveryredcheeks,drinkingsoupoutofabasin,thatMrs.