Sir Julian was perfectly well aware that Miss Marchrose's antecedents, so far as Alderman Bellew's knowledge of them was concerned, rested upon the slender fabric of the hints thrown out by Lady Rossiter on the subject. He therefore remained unresponsive, and Alderman Bellew presently, with an air of rather puzzled reluctance, abandoned the subject.
"It's no business of mine," Sir Julian told himself with increasing vehemence, as his perception grew of the strength of the league that was so successfully fighting the shadow of a possibility.
Even Culmhayes was pervaded by unrest.
Edna was silent all through dinner, except when the servants were in the room, when she discoursed in an elevating way about the first breath of spring, and a tiny twitter which she said that she had heard in the beech-wood that afternoon.
Sir Julian heard about the twitter towards February or March every year, and received the news of it with modified enthusiasm only.
As soon as they were alone, Edna drew a long breath, flung her head back, and said with a sort of restrained ardour:
"Julian, whom do you suppose I met this afternoon in the beech-wood?"
"The first squirrel of the year," suggested Sir Julian, with perfect indifference.
"I am not laughing."
"Neither am I. Do you mean a human being, or a harbinger of spring?"