“You will pardon my dull bewilderment,” he said. “It is not unnatural, is it—in a mere outsider?”
And Betty, with the beautiful impersonal smile, said:
“We felt it so unfortunate that even your solicitors did not know your address.”
When, at length, they turned and strolled towards the house, a carriage was drawing up before the door, and at the sight of it, Betty saw her companion slightly lift his eyebrows. Lady Anstruthers had been out and was returning. The groom got down from the box, and two men-servants appeared upon the steps. Lady Anstruthers descended, laughing a little as she talked to Ughtred, who had been with her. She was dressed in clear, pale grey, and the soft rose lining of her parasol warmed the colour of her skin.
Sir Nigel paused a second and put up his glass.
“Is that my wife?” he said. “Really! She quite recalls New York.”
The agreeable smile was on his lips as he hastened forward. He always more or less enjoyed coming upon Rosalie suddenly. The obvious result was a pleasing tribute to his power.
Betty, following him, saw what occurred.
Ughtred saw him first, and spoke quick and low.
“Mother!” he said.