Lady Marion was more than usually thoughtful after he had gone. She could not quite understand.
The time had been when he had never left the house without saying something about where he was going; now his absences were long, and she did not know where his time was spent.
Lady Lanswell noticed the unusual shadow on the girl's sweet face, and in her quick, impetuous way asked her about it.
"Marion, you are anxious or thoughtful—which is it?" she asked.
"Thoughtful," said Lady Chandos. "I am not anxious, not in the least."
"Of what are you thinking, that it brings a shadow on that dear face of yours?" said Lady Lanswell, kindly.
Lady Chandos turned to her, and in a low tone of voice said:
"Has Lance any very old or intimate friends in London?"
"No; none that I know of. He knows a great many people, of course, and some very intimately, but I am not aware of any especial friendship. Why do you ask me?"
"I fancied he had; he is so much more from home than he used to be, and does not say where he goes."