"He writes for the press," said Mrs. Trevelyan.
"What do you mean;—books?"
"No;—for a newspaper."
"For a penny newspaper," said Nora boldly—"for the Daily Record."
"Then I hope he won't come here any more," said Sir Marmaduke. Nora paused a moment, striving to find words for some speech which might be true to her love and yet not unseemly,—but finding no such words ready, she got up from her seat and walked out of the room. "What is the meaning of it all?" asked Sir Marmaduke. There was a silence for a while, and then he repeated his question in another form. "Is there any reason for his coming here,—about Nora?"
"I think he is attached to Nora," said Mrs. Trevelyan.
"My dear," said Lady Rowley, "perhaps we had better not speak about it just now."
"I suppose he has not a penny in the world," said Sir Marmaduke.
"He has what he earns," said Mrs. Trevelyan.
"If Nora understands her duty she will never let me hear his name again," said Sir Marmaduke. Then there was nothing more said, and as soon as they could escape, both Lady Rowley and Mrs. Trevelyan left the room.