It was painfully evident that she yearned to be again at Broxbridge.
How all this would end it was not so easy to say.
One morning, before Gatliffe had started to the works, Mr. Chicknell presented himself, and demanded to see the owner of the cottage.
Gatliffe received him stiffly, but courteously.
The lawyer was a wary old soldier, who was not accustomed to jump at a sudden proposition or conclusion.
After some preliminary remarks he told Gatliffe that Earl Ethalwood was ill, and that he most particularly desired to see his grand-daughter.
He laid a great stress on this last word.
A feeling as of sudden faintness came over the engineer.
“Wishes to see my wife, sir?” he said quickly.
“Yes, if you can spare her for a few days, it would be deemed a special favour. You see, my young friend, the earl has been accustomed to receive homage and obedience from his inferiors, and, indeed, from his equals in many instances, and he is, from this very circumstance, exacting and uncompromising. I don’t say it disrespectfully—for a more honourable gentleman does not live—but he is headstrong and self-willed, and cannot brook contradiction.”