Meredith Brander, who had been playing with his little boy, looked uneasily towards his brother at this speech.
“What a fuss you make about that child!” said Mrs. Brander, lightly, as if anxious to turn the conversation.
And, coming to the staircase, she picked up the little girl’s hat, which had fallen off in the course of her excited greetings, and telling her to run upstairs and get her face washed, Mrs. Brander invited her brother-in-law, with a welcoming gesture, to come with her into the drawing-room.
Vernon followed her with scarcely disguised reluctance, which the lady did not fail to perceive.
“What is the matter with you, Vernon?” she asked, as she seated herself by an open work-basket, and immediately began operations upon an embroidered pinafore. “There is a change in you since we went away; you have either grown less sociable, or else you have found some society more congenial than ours. Sit down; that pacing to and fro fidgets me.”
Vernon stopped in front of her, but did not seat himself.
“Do you know,” he began, abruptly, “that I have gone through a lengthy catechism of this sort at the hands of your husband? I have given the fullest answers to all his questions, and he can pass on to you any information you may require.”
In spite of the peremptoriness of his words, his tone was almost pleading; and in his face, as he looked down upon her, there was an expression of chivalrous kindliness which took all harshness out of his speech.
Mrs. Brander, glancing up at him, drew a breath of relief.
“I was almost beginning to fear, Vernon, that you had formed, or were on the point of forming, new ties which would make you forget the old ones.”