"He didn't—didn't mention me then?"
Mrs. Ray had been looking away from Rachel during this conversation,—had been purposely looking away from her. But now there was a tone of agony in her child's voice which forced her to glance round. Ah me! She beheld so piteous an expression of woe in Rachel's face that her whole heart was melted within her, and she began to wish instantly that they might have Rowan back again with all his faults.
"Tell me the truth, mamma; I may as well know it."
"Well, my dear, he didn't mention your name, but he did say a word about you."
"What word, mamma?"
"He said he would send no message because it would be no good."
"He said that, did he?"
"Yes, he said that. And so I suppose he meant it would be no good sending anything till he came himself."
"No, mamma; he didn't mean quite that. I understand what he meant. As it is to be so, he was quite right. No message could be of any use. It has been my own doing, and I have no right to blame him. Mamma, if you don't mind, I think I'll go to bed."
"My dear, you're wrong. I'm sure you're wrong. He didn't mean that."