"You know I am glad to come," said Caroline in her quietest way.
"I know you are very comforting; just the sort of person one wants about one when one is ill. Don't go away for a little while."
Caroline made up the fire, and then sat down in an armchair beside it, just as she had sat on another memorable occasion. She looked ever and again at Mrs. Lancing, who had crouched on the sofa, both her hands pressed to her head.
In a little while the tension seemed to relax, and Camilla opened her eyes.
"Has Rupert told you your own story?" she asked.
"A little bit; not all."
"He says it is my duty to let you leave me if you want to go," said Camilla, after another little pause.
Caroline looked at her with a little start.
"Why should I want to leave you?"
"Well"—it was a very weak little laugh that Camilla gave—"of course, now that you are an independent young person, you may not care to stop." Her brows came together again sharply for a minute, and she held her hand pressed tightly to her eyes, "Fancy that odious mother of his cheating you out of your money all this time," she said feebly when she spoke.