The tone in which Lord Beauport had spoken was grave and sad, and he had confined himself to the barest announcement. Annie had listened in respectful silence; but though she had not looked directly at her, she was conscious of Lady Beauport's reproachful glances, addressed to her husband, as he concluded by saying coldly,
"You were present, Annie, by my desire, when I declared that that which is now about to happen should never be, and I have thought it necessary to explain to you a course of conduct on my part which without explanation would have appeared very weak and inconsistent. As a member of my family you are entitled to such an explanation; and indeed, as an inmate of this house, you are entitled to an apology."
"Thank you, my lord," said Annie, in a voice which, though lower than usual, was very firm.
This was more than Lady Beauport's pride could bear. She began, fiercely enough,
"Really, Lord Beauport, I cannot see--"
But at that moment a servant opened the door and announced
"Lord Caterham."
The group by the fireside stood motionless for a moment, as Lionel, dressed in deep mourning, advanced towards them with well-bred ease and perfect unconcern. Then Lady Beauport threw herself into his arms; and Annie, hardly noticing that Lord Beauport had by an almost involuntary movement stretched out his hand to the handsome prodigal, glided past the three, hurried to her own room, and, having locked the door, sank down on her knees beside her bed in an agony of grief.
Three days elapsed, during which events marched with a steady pace at Elm Lodge and at the lodging were the woman who had brought such wreck and ruin within that tranquil-looking abode was lying contending with grief and disease, dying the death of despair and exhaustion. When Bowker returned from his unsuccessful quest for Lionel Brakespere, he found that she had passed into another phase of her malady,--was quiet, dreamy, and apparently forgetful of the excitement she had undergone. She was lying quite still on her bed, her eyes half closed, and a faint unmeaning smile was on her lips.
"I have seen her so for hours and hours, sir," said the gentle little landlady; "and it's my belief it's what she takes as does it."