There was a moment's silence, and then she could contain her indignation no longer and burst out with the cause of it.
"Why didn't you send me home immediately you returned? You could surely have given me your servant as an escort. Then you would have spared me the shame and humiliation of waiting during your private interchange of confidences with that woman."
At that instant we stopped at her house.
"Please not to come in to-night," she said. "I have had to keep certain things waiting here while I was being of use to you, and was sitting alone in your rooms; and I have now very much to do."
"I am sorry to trouble you; but I am coming in. This thing must be cleared up at once;" and I followed my very angry sister into the house.
She led the way to a small drawing-room and turning to me said coldly:—
"I am ready to hear what you wish to say."
I had been thinking quickly during the interval, and now changed my point of attack.
"I had a very serious thing to say. You gave me your promise...."
"I would rather you would not remind me of any promises," she interrupted. This was said deliberately; but then she broke through her cold formality, and with a little stamp of her foot finished angrily:—"I won't keep them. I won't be reminded of them. Things are altered—altogether altered."