“Yes; I hope sincerely that it will,” said Wynne. There was an atmosphere of sympathy in his vicinity that had the effect of compelling confidences.
“I think the London racketing knocked her up, and I’m never going to have a town house again. When I come back, I shall buy some ancient historical mansion, the seat of some old family that have died out, and restore it. That is, of course, if Madeline——” He left his listener to fill in the sentence.
“Yes,” rather absently.
“I dare say you’ll be married and settled by the time I see you again.”
“I am not likely to marry,” he returned quietly.
“Oh yes, yes; I forgot—a widower, eh? And how’s the child? I always forgot to ask?”
“The child is dead,” he answered gravely.
“Dear me, that’s a pity; children are a terrible anxiety, as I know! Well, I hope to come across you again, Wynne.”
“I think it very likely that we shall meet again, and very shortly, for I am going out to Australia myself, almost immediately.”
“No! Oh, I’m delighted to hear it! Law business, of course, with an immense fee, eh?”