me about my dear grandfather's intentions, but I must
beg of you on no account to let the matter go farther.
I should be distressed if it were generally known.
The letter to Mr. Ogilvie was of course written
in confidence.—Excuse haste, and believe me,
yours truly,"
"HERMIONE RIVERS."
Hermione read her note through. "Yes, that will do," she murmured. "They are the sort of people that one has to be very decided with. And all this in consequence of one call, and one favour accepted! Should I find myself frightfully in their power, after weeks in the house? I wonder if, after all, it might be better not—"
She did not finish the sentence even to herself, but went to place her note with other letters in the hall ready for the post. Then the carriage drove up, and she waited to welcome her cousin.
Harvey came in listlessly. His altered looks did not strike Hermione, since she had been to the cottage two or three times since the accident. Her greeting was kind but pre-occupied, so much pre-occupied that she even forgot to ask how Julia was. Mrs. Trevor extended three gloved fingers, with a careless "How do?" and preceded the others into the drawing-room, exclaiming, "No lights! Well, that is cheerful, I must say. Only a single farthing dip! You seem to be doing things economically!"