Olivia was surprised by the coolness with which he said this. However, she hastened to add—
“But I don’t think it will be rebuilt after all.”
It seemed to her that something very like a shade of disappointment crossed his face at these words.
“How is that?” was all he said.
“I spoke to Mr. Mitchell afterwards, and he promised me never to do anything to harm you,” said Olivia, in a gentle, earnest voice, quite ignoring, in the excitement of this announcement, how much of her own feelings she was betraying.
“Then you think,” said he, very quietly, “that the building of a new tower at St. Cuthbert’s would do me harm?”
“I—I thought,” said Olivia, much confused, “from what I had heard, that you did not wish it to be rebuilt.”
“And I suppose you must have some idea why?”
“No,” answered Olivia, quickly.
“Quite sure?”