“Are you married to him?”
Mrs. van Oynne was sensitive to atmosphere. No English barometer (the most restless of all scientific instruments except perhaps a Japanese seismograph) was quite as responsive to the emotions of others as was the little detector which registered sympathy in the nimble brain of Heloise.
“Some day I will tell you,” she said, in a tone of deepest melancholy, “but not now—not now!”
She drew a long, shivering sigh.
“I don’t suppose you’re following this kind of life for the fun of it,” Diana went on, her heart softening toward her unwilling guest.
“You’ve said it!” Heloise nodded slowly.
“If I could do anything—” began Diana.
Mr. Superbus arrived with the extra cup and saucer, and confidences were temporarily sidetracked.
“Sleep well, Aunt Lizzie?” asked Julius, drinking audibly.
She shook her head.