Of the incident of the sewing Lord Coombe had been informed later with other details.
"She sits and sews and sews," wrote Dowie. "She sewed beautifully even before she was out of the nursery. I have never seen a picture of a little saint sewing. If I had, perhaps I should say she looked like it."
Coombe read the letter to his old friend at Eaton Square.
There was a pause as he refolded it. After the silence he added as out of deep thinking, "I wish that I could see her."
"So do I," the Duchess said. "So do I. But if I were to go to her, questioning would begin at once."
"My going to Darreuch would attract no attention. It never did after the first year. But she has not said she wished to see me. I gave my word. I shall never see her again unless she asks me to come. She does not need me. She has Donal."
"What do you believe?" she asked.
"What do you believe?" he replied.
After a moment of speculative gravity came her reply.