"I see—" with a note of disappointment.
"Not romantic, is it? A good many useful things in life are unromantic."
"But you like it?"
"One must do something, and that turned up. It seemed as good as anything else was likely to be."
They began to move towards the house. Magda had suggested this, but it was Fairfax who took the first step. Magda talked eagerly, bringing up one reminiscence after another, and he responded sufficiently to keep her going.
Perhaps his interest was a little less keen than hers; for when they came across Mrs. Royston and Merryl in the flower-garden, and Magda muttered an impatient—"Oh, bother!" Fairfax showed no reluctance. He even quickened his pace to meet them. Magda wanted to keep him longer to herself, for she had no notion of sharing her friend with others.
[CHAPTER XXVI]
WHERETO THINGS TENDED
"WHAT is all this about, mother?" Rob asked three weeks later. "I mean, of course,—the girls."
He had run down for a few days, spending the greater part of them with Patricia. Mrs. Royston thought him looking pale and worried, even unhappy. But he said nothing which could give a clue to the cause; and she was reluctant to force confidence by direct questions. Rob, whatever his own cares might be, was not too much wrapped up in them to note other people's concerns; and he very soon put the above query.