"Good-evening."
"I was afraid you were ill."
"You are very determined I shall be ill, it seems to me."
"No, no, but I naturally wanted to come and—" She stopped, feeling too chilled and rebuffed to say more.
"To come and bring me back my ring?"
Val, without answering, walked to the door.
"You did give it to Ethan? Answer me."
"Yes, grandmamma."
"Have you got it back?"
"No, grandmamma."