Gillian had not spoken all the time; but outside she said—‘Oh, aunt! is this my doing?’
‘Not quite,’ said Aunt Jane kindly. ‘There were other causes.’
‘Oh, if I could do anything!’
‘Alas! it is easier to do than to undo.’
Aunt Jane was really kind, and Gillian was grateful, but oh, how she longed for her mother!
There was no better news the next morning. Nothing had been heard of Alexis, and nothing would persuade his mother in her half-delirious and wholly unreasonable state that he had not been sent to prison, and that they were not keeping it from her. She was exceedingly ill, and Kalliope had been up all night with her.
Such was the report in a note sent up by Mrs. Lee by one of the little boys early in the morning, and, as soon as she could reasonably do so, Miss Mohun carried the report to Lord Rotherwood, whom she found much better, and anxious to renew the tour of inspection which had been interrupted.
Before long, Mr. White was shown in, intending to resume the business discussion, and Miss Mohun was about to retreat with Lady Rotherwood, when her cousin, taking pity on her anxiety, said—
‘If you will excuse me for speaking about your family matters, Mr. White, my cousin knows these young people well, and I should like you to hear what she has been telling me.’
‘A gentleman has just been calling on me about them,’ said Mr. White, not over-graciously.