"O no," he said; "but I wanted to see you before you went out, because I have a letter from Melbourne."
She changed colour slightly, and glanced nervously at the letter.
"It is very short. Meredith merely says he cannot come to England, or send his son for some time--not for a year, indeed. There is a money difficulty out there, and Mrs. Meredith is in delicate health."
"Indeed! I am sorry for that. So master Robert must put up with colonial life for a little longer."
"Yes," replied James; "and I am not sorry. The longer my responsibility as regards that young gentleman is deferred the better. Still, I should like to see Meredith. Shouldn't you, Margaret?
"No," she said quickly, and in a tone of decision, "I should not, James. Not because I am ungrateful--no, indeed--but because anything, any one connected with that dreadful time I would shun by any lawful means. You don't know how I dread any mention of it, how I shrink from any thought of it. You don't--you can't--it is like a curse from which I never can escape. If"--she continued vehemently--"if Hayes Meredith came into this house, if any one from that place came, I should feel it was an evil omen--I should be sure it could only be to bring me misery. Very superstitious, very wrong, very weak,--is it not, James?--I know; but it is perfectly true, and stronger than I--"
She shuddered as she spoke, and was quite pale now.
James looked at her in agitated surprise, and put the letter, which she had made no motion to take from him, into his pocket.
At that moment the footman approached them, coming from the house.
James glanced at Margaret's white face and tearful eyes, and went forward to intercept the servant before he should be near enough lo discover them also.