"It seemed a long way off, dear, to the holy Jacob, the very day before the waggons arrived to carry him down to his son Joseph. Yet it was very near, Helena."
I listened with respect, of course: but I could not see what that had to do with me. The waggons were not coming for me—that one thing was certain.
"Wilt thou be here for the coronation, my child?"
"I shall be where Guy is," I said shortly. "But—O holy Mother, she might have spared him that!"
Lady Judith's look was very pitiful. Yet she said—
"Perhaps not, my child."
Why, of course she might, if she would. What was to hinder her? But I did not say so, for it would have been discourteous.
Even between me and my dear old Lady Judith there seemed a miserable constraint. Was it any marvel? I rose to go. Almost noiselessly the door opened, and before I could exclaim or escape, Sybil stood before me.
"And wert thou going without any farewell—me,—little sister, Helena?"
I stood up, frozen into stone.