NB: Hoping to make you more confused over Mary's behaviour.
Chapter 7
It was once again the middle of the night and Mary made her way down the stairs as before, lit the lamp, went into the kitchen and brought another sandwich out, along with a glass of milk which she put down on the low table. She went straight to the book cabinet and took out the copy of A Tale of Two Cities. Took it over to the lamp next to the fire and sat on the stone hearth leaning over the table just staring at the book, then caressed it in a lovingly manner.
She began to breath deeply and opened the book somewhere near the end. Tears began to flow with intense emotion. Mary touched the page with loving affection and started to read as best she could through her tears. She began reading aloud, breathing life into the words, but in whispered tones of course, stopping every so often trying to stop her tears.
Mary read for around fifteen minutes when she heard a cough from upstairs. She bolted like lightening, putting the novel back in the bookcase and ran back out to the kitchen with her sandwich and milk, which she hadn't even touched. And raced back to the big room, turned down the lamp, her eyes tilted upward, waiting for any other sound, and when she felt it was safe, returned to her room.
Hazel eyes had watched her every move from the darkened corner beneath the stairs. Waited until all was silent, Adam ventured back up to his room, laid down, his mind working overtime before he eventually succumbed to sleep.
Just a little while later, now dressed in black trousers and shirt, wearing boots that were too big and an old hat, all purloined from amongst the wardrobes in the other bedrooms, Mary silently made her way downstairs and across the room to the main door. She turned and looked once more around the big room. "Goodbye Ponderosa and you wonderful people. God bless you Adam, I shall miss you, but will never forget you" she whispered, without a trace of an Irish accent, wiping away a tear. Turned, went through the door and was gone.