Tredennis' reply was characteristically abrupt.
"Mrs. Amory does not," he said.
"No," answered Arbuthnot, and he looked at the end of his cigar as if he saw nothing else.
"Why doesn't she?" demanded Tredennis.
"She ought to," said Arbuthnot, with calm adroitness.
"Ought to!" Tredennis repeated. "She should have gone months ago. She—she is actually ill. Why in heaven's name does she stay? She told me two weeks since that she was going to Fortress Monroe, or some such place."
"She had better go to a New England farm-house, and wear a muslin gown and swing in a hammock," said Arbuthnot.
"You see that as well, do you?" said the colonel. "Why don't you tell her so?" and having said it, seemed to pull himself up suddenly, as if he felt he had been unconsciously impetuous.
Arbuthnot laughed.
His smile had died completely away, however, when he gave his side glance at his companion's face a moment later.