"You were bound to tell me, but should not have asked me. There are things which do not require asking. What must I do with him?"
"Nothing. Nothing can be done. You could not touch the subject without alluding to my sister. She is coming back to Hendon in another week."
"She was there before, but I did not see her."
"Of course you did not see her. How should you?"
"Simply by going there."
"She would not have seen you." There came a black frown over Roden's brow as he heard this. "It has been understood between my father and Fanny and myself that you should not come to Hendon while she is living with me."
"Should not I have been a party to that agreement?"
"Hardly, I think. This agreement must have been made whether you assented or not. On no other terms would my father have permitted her to come. It was most desirable that she should be separated from Lady Kingsbury."
"Oh, yes."
"And therefore the agreement was advisable. I would not have had her on any other terms."