"Grantley, would you rather I went away? Don't you find life unendurable like this?"
"I don't find it pleasant," he smiled; "but I would certainly rather you didn't go away. If you want a change for a few weeks, I'll endeavour to resign myself."
"I mean, go away altogether."
"No, no, I'm sure you don't mean anything so—— Forgive me, Sibylla, but now and then your suggestions are hard to describe with perfect courtesy."
She looked at him in a wondering way, but made no answer; and he too was silent for a minute.
"I think it would be a good thing," he went on, "if you and Frank betook yourselves to Milldean for a few weeks. I'm so busy that I can see very little of you here, and country air is good for nerves."
"Very well, we'll go in a day or two. You'll stay here?"
"Yes, I must. I'll try to get down now and then, and bring some cheerful people with me. Blake will come sometimes, I daresay. Jeremy won't till he's rich and famous, I'm afraid."
In spite of herself, it flashed across her that he was making her path very easy. And she wondered at the way he spoke of Blake, at his utter absence of suspicion. Her conscience moved a little at this.
"Yes, I'm sure you'll be better at Milldean," he went on; "and—and try to think things over while you're there."