“But there is no reason why she should not accept his attentions.”
“No reason! What—is his wife no reason?” asked Harry, sharply.
“His wife! Is he married?” cried Annie, in a low, frightened voice.
“Of course he is. Been married for the last ten years!”
CHAPTER VII.
The announcement that Colonel Richardson was married entirely changed the aspect in which his attention to Lilian had appeared. Annie understood now that she herself had been used to cover a friendship which the girl’s relatives disapproved of, and the young wife’s heart beat fast with excitement and dread of the scene she had to go through when she next heard Lilian’s footstep outside her sitting-room door. She was doubtful how to open the subject; but her companion soon paved the way by asking if the colonel had brought a book from Mudie’s.
“He called; but I had told Lydia to say I was not at home.”
Lilian’s face instantly wore its haughtiest expression.
“You sent such a message as that to Colonel Richardson?”
“Yes.”