"My dear, you know—" And then he stopped, having been pounced upon so suddenly that he had not resolved what excuse he would for the moment put forward. "I've got my papers and things in such confusion here at present,—because of Percycross and the trouble I have had,—that I cannot leave them just now."
"But why not bring the papers with you, papa?"
"My dear, you know I can't."
Then there was another pause. "Papa, I think you ought," said Patience. "Indeed I do, for Clary's sake,—and ours." But even this was not the subject which had specially brought them on that morning to Southampton Buildings.
"What is there wrong with Clary?" asked Sir Thomas.
"There is nothing wrong," said Patience
"What do you mean then?"
"I think it would be so much more comfortable for her that you should see things as they are going on."
"I declare I don't know what she means. Do you know what she means, Mary?"
"Clary has not been quite herself lately," said Mary.