Then, averting her head, that no one might see the blanching of her face, she said, in a tone of enforced calmness, to the waiting servant:
“Tell the messenger that there is no answer.”
The servant bowed and withdrew.
“What is it, dear?” inquired Abel Force.
“Nothing that needs attention to-night,” she replied, with assumed indifference.
And Abel Force, thinking it to be some little domestic matter that might not be discussed before a stranger, and perfectly unsuspicious of anything secret or serious—thinking no evil—dropped the subject then and there, and forgot.
“Ah-h-h! Yaw-w-w! I never was so tired and sleepy in all my life before!” cried Mrs. Anglesea, throwing herself back in her chair, and stretching her mouth and limbs with a tremendous yawn.
“No doubt you are, madam. You have had a most fatiguing day. Permit me!” said Mr. Force, and he lighted a wax taper and put it in her hand.
“And what on earth am I to do with this, old man?” she demanded, between two gapes.
“It is to light you to your room,” said Mrs. Force, answering for her dismayed husband. “Can you find your way, or shall I see you to the door?”