“What are you doing in this house, Juliette?”
There was a silence.
“Look here, Carpentaria,” Ilam began, rising a little in a chair.
“Silence!” cried Carpentaria angrily and threateningly.
And at the noise the great dog Neptune, pride of the Ilams, emerged from behind the chair and growled.
Juliette said at last:
“Mrs. Ilam told me that Jos—that Mr. Ilam was unwell, and so I—I came to see how he was. That’s all.”
“Really!” said Carpentaria. “Is that all? Your philanthropic interest in the sick and suffering, my girl, does you great credit. But as the invalid seems to be doing fairly well you’d better come home with me. I want to talk to you.”
Juliette gave a look of appeal to Ilam.
“I must tell him,” she whispered. “I must tell Carlos. Why did you want me to keep it a secret? Carlos, Mr. Ilam and I are engaged to be married. We love each other. We only want your consent, and Jos was afraid you mightn’t give it. He was afraid. We’ve been engaged three days now, haven’t we, Jos?”