There was a weird air of prophecy about this remark which made Rhoda feel uncomfortable. But she only sighed, and said:
“Nothing that happens will matter to me, for I am going away.”
“Oh, no, you’re not,” croaked the witch.
“You’ll see,” said Rhoda, as she rose with an air of determination, and started to walk back to the house.
The mocking laughter of Minnie sounded uncannily in her ears, as she disappeared into the yew path.
She went straight to the study and knocked at the door. Almost at the same moment she became aware that some one was talking inside the room, and she would fain have retired. But as Sir Robert called out “Come in,” she had to enter, blushing and apologetic, and then she found that Jack Rotherfield and Lady Sarah were both in the room with the baronet.
“I’m so sorry, I thought you were alone,” said Rhoda.
“And he will be alone in a moment,” cried Lady Sarah merrily. “Jack’s had a breakdown, and he had to come back, and he’s been telling us all about it.”
It flashed through Rhoda’s mind that, as Jack’s errand to town had probably been connected with the disposal of the Romney, the breakdown had not been a very serious nor a very inconvenient one. And then, rendered suspicious by circumstances, she noted that Lady Sarah, in spite of her statement that she was going, did not go. And it occurred to Rhoda that Lady Sarah wished to avoid the possibility of a tête-à-tête between her husband and Rhoda.
Sir Robert turned to the girl courteously, and asked what he could do for her. In a low voice, striving to repress every sign of emotion, Rhoda said that she would be glad if she might leave the Mill-house at once, and return home to her parents.