He laid his hand lightly on the back of her chair, stooped, and said softly:
“Mrs. Hay!”
She started, opened her eyes, sat up and gazed at him.
“I have startled you. I am sorry,” he said.
“Mr. Walling! You here! In England! At Haymore!” she exclaimed, gazing at him as if she could not turn away her eyes.
“Yes, as you see!” he answered.
“And we did not know you were coming. At least, I did not. And, oh! what brought you here? I don’t mean to be rude, though the question seems a rude one.”
“It is a most natural one. I came—for a change,” replied Will Walling evasively.
“And when did you arrive?”
“In England? Tuesday.”