“I’ll see him,” said Mrs. Fremby. “Just a minute, Judith!”
With a firm step she left the room. At heart, though, she was by no means easy. She felt sure that this visitor was Mr. Donalds, and she was not very anxious to see him again.
It was Mr. Donalds. As she descended the stairs, she saw him standing, hat in hand, in the dimly lit hall, and her heart sank still lower. He was not a man to be trifled with. He was[Pg 256]—
“Not a handsome man at all,” thought Mrs. Fremby; “but distinguished-looking.”
He came toward her. Their eyes met. They did not smile.
“Madam,” said he, “I obtained your name and address from the—ah—person in the tea room.”
“She ought to have known better,” observed Mrs. Fremby.
“I succeeded in convincing her that I intended no harm,” he went on; “and I wish to assure you that I bear no ill will.”
Mrs. Fremby softened.
“I gave you a great deal of quite unnecessary trouble and anxiety,” she said. “I regret it very much; but—perhaps I ought to explain. You see, there is a friend of mine—Judith Cane—who has a little niece, her own sister’s child; and the father’s people have taken the little girl away from her. It’s shameful! Judith loves the child so much!”