“Already? To go when?”
“Today,” said Sophy in a low tone, her eyes on Anna’s.
“Today? Why on earth should you go today?” Owen dropped back a step or two, flushing and paling under his bewildered frown. His eyes seemed to search the girl more closely. “Something’s happened.” He too looked at his step-mother. “I suppose she must have told you what it is?”
Anna was struck by the suddenness and vehemence of his appeal. It was as though some smouldering apprehension had lain close under the surface of his security.
“She’s told me nothing except that she wishes to be with her friends. It’s quite natural that she should want to go to them.”
Owen visibly controlled himself. “Of course—quite natural.” He spoke to Sophy. “But why didn’t you tell me so? Why did you come first to my step-mother?”
Anna intervened with her calm smile. “That seems to me quite natural, too. Sophy was considerate enough to tell me first because of Effie.”
He weighed it. “Very well, then: that’s quite natural, as you say. And of course she must do exactly as she pleases.” He still kept his eyes on the girl. “Tomorrow,” he abruptly announced, “I shall go up to Paris to see you.”
“Oh, no—no!” she protested.
Owen turned back to Anna. “Now do you say that nothing’s happened?”