‘Nothing you can tell me can ever——’
‘Yes it can,’ said Catherine.
Mrs. Mitcham appeared, following them into the room. ‘Shall I light the fire, m’m?’ she inquired. ‘It seemed warm, and Mr. Colquhoun thought——’
‘Was Mr. Colquhoun here?’
‘Yes, m’m. He’s only been gone a few minutes.’
‘What a pity,’ said Catherine.
‘What a mercy,’ said Christopher.
‘I would have liked you to meet him,’ she said. ‘No, thank you—I won’t have a fire,’ she added, turning to Mrs. Mitcham, who went away and shut the door.
‘Why? Why on earth should you want me to meet Stephen?’
‘He would so very nicely have pointed the moral of what I’m going to tell you,’ she said smiling, for she felt safe again, knowing that Virginia would bring him to his senses once and for ever.