“The man!” she said. “Who is the man?”
“I never heard Caroline speak of any man,” said Lexy.
She spoke firmly enough, and she was telling the truth; but she remembered that telephone call, and the memory brought a faint flush into her cheeks. Mrs. Enderby did not fail to notice it.
“Listen!” she said. “There is one thing you can do—only one thing. You can hold your tongue. Tell no one. Let no one know that Caroline is not here. You understand?”
“But aren’t you going to—”
“I am going to do nothing. You understand—nothing. There is to be no scandal in my house.”
“But, Mrs. Enderby!”
“Hush! No one must know of this. To-morrow morning I shall have a letter from Caroline.”
“Oh!” said Lexy, with a sigh of genuine relief. “Oh, then you know where she’s gone!”
“I?” replied Mrs. Enderby. “I know nothing. This has come to me from a clear sky. I have always tried to safeguard my child. I—”