“That was very kind of him,” I made haste to answer. “My headache is quite well. I was thinking of going out, as it looks as if the east wind had gone.”
“Yes, it’s a nice day. I dare say it would do you good to go out.”
Nothing could have made me feel more plainly the break that had come in what had been such “a fair fellowship” than his making no offer to come with me, and I realized with sharp regret that I had done well in writing that letter to Aunt Jane.
Willy turned to leave the room.
“I wanted to tell you about this letter,” I said. “I have just written to Aunt Jane to say that I am going back to America in about a fortnight.”
His back had been towards me when I began to speak, but he faced round with an exclamation of astonishment.
“What! going away? Why are you doing that?”
His face was red with surprise, and he had forgotten his shyness.
“I thought Uncle Dominick would have told you. I spoke to him a couple of days ago.”
“He never said so to me. On the contrary——” Willy stopped. “I mean, he didn’t give me the least idea you were going.”