The squire's face grew pale—I could see that through the tanning on it; he had not expected to see me here, and his hand trembled as he took mine. But he said, gently: "I'm glad to see you out again. I came to look round the place. I hope we have been lucky enough to sublet it till your lease is up."
From a business point of view the words swam over my head, but they were ominous. I felt that they confirmed what the woman had said. "You think we can't afford to keep on 'The Elms?'" I asked, absently, not daring to put the question that was at my heart.
"I think it would be unwise," answered he, evasively. "I think any one who manages your property will have enough to do without it."
"Mr. Broderick," said I, suddenly, looking him full in the face, "has Mr. Harrod left us for good?"
"Yes," he answered, firmly, "for good."
I could not speak for a moment, then trying hard to steady my voice, I said, "Did you know it?"
"Yes," he answered. "I knew it."
He no longer looked at me now, nor did either of us say anything for some time. He spoke first, saying, in quite an ordinary voice: "I don't think he was quite the fellow for the place. An older man with fewer new ideas would have been better."
"Was that the reason that he left?" asked I, in a muffled voice, although indeed I knew well enough that I was talking idly. "Father did not send him away because of his new ideas."