To-morrow might be what it liked if he would let her go now. She slipped away. The men came out and left the house. Rachel followed with Mavering and closed the door. After a time Thaddeus said:
"Relative to a certain estate, Mrs. Mavering, in which you and I made investments, undertook a trusteeship, has it not, in your opinion, been administered somewhat—a—speculatively? It appears to me to be loaded, I might say, with liabilities. I do not see that the—a—securities are ascertained."
"Oh! but I think he will get well."
"Granted—and then?"
"He must care for her."
"Granted—a—it would seem probable, and then?"
He deliberately refrained from looking at Mavering, who was examining Thaddeus, his gold-rimmed glasses and accurate tailoring, with speculative interest.
"I doubt whether you can argue from me," said Mavering, serenely. Rachel flushed and Thaddeus protested.
"Oh, I beg—"