Nathanael looked alarmed. “Indeed! and did the rest of the family know anything?—guess anything?”
“Nothing.”
Her husband fixed on her a penetrating gaze; she returned it steadily.
“Agatha,” he hurriedly said, “you are a sensible girl—more so than any of my sisters. I want to consult with you alone. Come and walk up and down the room with me where they cannot overhear us.”
She did so. How strange it was!
“Do you think my father had any sudden ill news? Did he see any person yesterday?”
“A stranger came to him. Your brother's lawyer, Mr. Grimes.”
“Grimes? Oh, my poor father!”
He sat down abruptly. Agatha wondered at his mingling the two names. What should Grimes have to do with his father?
“Did any one else see Grimes?”