And Betty was right.
Camilla arrived in the smartest and latest of automobiles; she was exquisitely dressed in white, and caused a flutter in the little toy watering-place, which, with so many of its kind, stud the coast of Normandy. She came not alone. There were two men and another woman with her.
Mrs. Brenton and Caroline and the children were down on the digue when she arrived, and as the children caught sight of their pretty mother and rushed to greet her, Agnes Brenton caught Caroline by the wrist.
"There is no occasion to send for Sammy," she said; "Camilla has brought him."
And when a little mist had cleared away from Caroline's eyes she saw that Mrs. Brenton had made no mistake.
It was Broxbourne himself. He looked sheepish and uncomfortable as he caught Caroline's eyes, and he made no attempt to approach her.
There was never any one so gay as Camilla. The moment she arrived she seemed to radiate the whole place. The little crowded digue concentrated its whole attention on her. She provoked universal admiration.
When the whole party made a move towards the hotel for luncheon, she caught Caroline by the hand.
"I want you, Caroline—I want to ask you something," she said. She sent the children on ahead; then, when there was no one near, she said, "Can you give me news of Rupert?"
"No," said Caroline, "but I have no doubt Mrs. Brenton can."