“What has your sister said about it since?”
“I tore up the letters before we left the King Arthur. I kept these only by chance—mixed up with some books. But, so far as I can remember, she hasn’t said anything—certainly nothing definite. And she hasn’t mentioned Ordith, I’m sure. It’s odd, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you think she has had a row with him?”
“No; but—— Anyway, we shan’t know anything until we get home to England.”
Hugh laughed. “I believe you are just as keen as I am that my—that my people should go to China.”
John answered quickly: “You see, I am counting on your invitations to give me an excuse for leave.”
II
After spending nearly a week at home, John came up to London on the first Friday of his leave. He was to stay with the Fane-Herberts, who were giving a dance on the following day, and before he returned to the country he and Hugh were to go together to Mr. Reeve’s London branch and order the clothes they would need in China.
“I am afraid it is no good,” Hugh told him. “It seems to be definitely fixed that Margaret is to remain in England.”