“How do you do?” he said very stiffly. “Miss Burke asked me to leave a message for you on my way home. She hopes you do not forget that she expects you this afternoon. She thought you would have been with her at tea time.
“I could not go,” I answered, without moving.
“Miss Burke desired me to say that you were not to disappoint her,” going on conscientiously with his message, “as Dr. Kelly had told her there was no necessity for your staying with Mr. Sarsfield.”
“My uncle has been much worse. I must wait and see Dr. Kelly.”
My lips were stiff and cold, and I moved them with difficulty. It did not occur to me to ask him to sit down; my only wish was that he should go away while I was still able to keep up the semblance of an ordinary demeanour. He looked at me for a moment.
“I am very sorry to hear that Mr. Sarsfield is worse. Miss Burke had no idea of that when she sent the message.”
“I do not know when I shall be able to go to her. Perhaps never!”
The last words forced themselves out against my will; he must see now that something was wrong. Why did he not go?
“Is there any message I can give Miss Burke for you? If I could be of any use——” he began, less formally than he had hitherto spoken.
“No, thank you; nothing,” I answered, still standing motionless.