Lady Ardingly thought a moment. She never wasted words, and saw clearly that the needs of the Empire were a barren discussion.
"Supposing you had had a child by him, my dear?" she said gently.
"God has spared me that," said Marie. "We need not discuss it."
Next moment Lady Ardingly could have boxed her own ears at her own stupidity.
"And Maud?" she said. "Have you thought of her?"
Marie pushed away the footstool on which her feet were resting.
"Maud," she said—"Maud Brereton?"
"Yes, my dear. She, too, is burned in your suttee. Oh, you will have a fine blaze!"
For the first moment she had a spark of hope.