There was no one with her, and she was sitting at a table, with drawing materials before her, apparently engaged in copying a picture.
Hearing the door open and shut, she lifted her head and looked up.
Seeing Alden Lytton standing before her, she dropped the pencil from her fingers, turned deathly pale and stared at him in silence.
Alden, if the truth must be told, was scarcely less agitated; but he soon recovered his self-command.
"I should apologize," he said, "for coming in unannounced; but I did not know that you were here. I was shown into this room by the waiter, supposing that I was to remain here until he took my card to you."
She neither moved nor spoke, but sat and stared at him.
"I have only come as the bearer of a letter to you from Miss Cavendish—a letter that I promised to deliver in person. Here it is," he said, laying the little packet on the table before her.
Still she made no answer to his words, nor any acknowledgment of his service. She did not even take up Emma's letter.
"And now, having done my errand, I will bid you good-afternoon, Mrs. Grey," he said, bowing and turning to leave the room.
That broke the panic-stricken spell that held her still.