Lady Bannerdale, looked alarmed.
"Oh, don't do that, my dear!" she said. "If you are obliged to turn out of the house, why not come to us? It would be so kind and sweet of you."
Ida sighed a little wearily.
"Oh, I don't suppose they will insist upon ejecting me," she said. "I think I can persuade them to leave me two or three rooms."
Lady Bannerdale went home and dropped her bomb-shell in the presence of
Lord Bannerdale and Edwin.
"Ida rather thinks of going abroad," she said in a casual way at the dinner table.
Lord Edwin was raising his wine glass to his lips, but arrested it half-way and set it down again; and his handsome face grew long and grave.
"Oh! We shall miss her," remarked Lord Bannerdale, lamely, and avoiding looking in his son's direction.
Not another word was said; but the next day Lord Edwin came into Lady Bannerdale's room with that affectation of ease and indifference which never yet deceived a mother.
"I'm going to call on Miss Heron, mother," he said. "Any message?"