"She was quite serious in her intention of going away two weeks ago," he said. "She told me so; nothing but Richard's dinner-party prevented her departure in the first place."
He spoke in an entirely non-committal tone, but there was a touch of interest in his quiet glance at Tredennis.
"You dined there with Planefield and the rest, didn't you?" he added.
"Yes."
"I didn't. Richard was kind enough to invite me, but I should only have been in the way." He paused an instant, and then added, without any change of tone or manner, "I know nothing of the Westoria lands."
"Was it necessary that you should?" said Tredennis. "I did not."
"Oh," Arbuthnot answered, "I knew they would discuss them, and the bill, as it pleases Amory to be interested in them just now."
"I remember that the matter was referred to several times," said Tredennis; "even Mrs. Amory seemed to know a good deal of it."
"A good deal!" said Arbuthnot. "In favor of the bill?"
"Yes," Tredennis answered. "She had been reading up, it appeared. She said some very good things about it—in a laughing way. Why does she waste her time and strength on such folly?" he added, hotly. "Why—why is she allowed to do it?"