“You muttered, though. I heard you mumble something below your breath, as if you agreed with what I said. Say it out, Madam, if you think it.”
She heaved a weary sigh, but said nothing.
“Has Beattie been here?” asked he, hastily.
“Yes; he stayed for above an hour, but was obliged to go at last to visit another patient. He brought Dr. Lendrick out with him; he arrived this evening.”
“Lendrick! Do you mean the man from the Cape?”
“Yes.”
“That completes it!” burst he, as he flung his arms wildly up. “I was just wondering what other malignant piece of spite Fortune could play me, and there it is! Had you any talk with this man?”
“Yes; he remained with me all the time Dr. Beattie was upstairs.”
“And what was his tone? Has he come back to turn us out?—that of course he has—but does he avow it?”
“He shows no such intentions. He asked whether you held much to the Nest, if it was a place that you liked, or if you could relinquish it without any regret?”