"But—why?"
"Must I say why?"
She was the more composed of the two. She had had her struggle beforehand, and was mistress of herself, while Nigel, taken by surprise, was visibly agitated.
He sat down in front of her, leaning forward; and as he faced Fulvia, she noted a strange gleam in his eyes.
A wonder crossed her mind! Did this mean distress, or was it a sense of possible relief, even of joy?
"Yes; I have had no idea all these weeks—But you are changed! What has happened?"
"Not the will," she said. "You could not really suppose it to be that. I am only glad he did not make a new one."
"Then—what?"
Fulvia answered by a single word, soft and clear, "Ethel!"
Nigel did not move, and his eyes were on Fulvia still.