‘The money has not run short, has it?’ inquired the solicitor; ‘for, if so, you should have applied to me.’
She gave a shrug of impatience.
‘My money has never run short, thank you,’ she replied. ‘Ilfracombe thinks too much of my comfort for that.’
‘It is his prolonged stay abroad, then, that is puzzling you,’ continued Mr Sterndale; ‘but I am in a position to explain that. I have a painful duty before me, Miss Llewellyn, but I don’t know that I shall make it any better by beating about the bush.’
‘A painful task,’ she echoed, with staring eyes. ‘For God’s sake, don’t tell me that my—that Ilfracombe is ill?’
‘No, no, nothing of the sort. But has it never occurred to you, Miss Llewellyn, that circumstances may alter in this life, that a tie like that between you and Lord Ilfracombe, for example, does not, as a rule, last for ever.’
‘No, never,’ she answered firmly, ‘because it is no ordinary tie, and Lord Ilfracombe is a gentleman. I am as sure of him as I am of myself. He would never break his word to me.’
‘There is no question of breaking his word. You knew the conditions under which you took up your residence in this house, and that you have no legal right here.’
‘Have you come here to insult me?’ cried Nell shrilly. ‘How dare you allude to any agreement between Lord Ilfracombe and myself? I am here, that is quite enough for you to know, and the earl has said that I am to remain. I am sure he never desired you to come here and taunt me with my position?’
‘Taunt, my dear lady. That is scarcely the word to use. I was only reminding you, as gently as I knew how, that your position is untenable, and that young men are apt to change their minds.’