Ella was staring at the man who had entered with Mr. Ayrton. There was some apprehension in her eyes.
The man had his eyes fixed upon her. But his face was wholly devoid of expression.
Phyllis was the first to break the silence that made a frame, so to speak, for the picture.
“How do you do, Mr. Linton?” she said, taking a step toward the door.
“I am very well, thank you, Miss Ayrton,” the man replied, shaking hands with her. “Rather a singular hour for a visit, is it not?”
“Oh, no! only Ella didn’t tell me that you——”
She turned to Ella, and noticed that the expression of apprehension on her face had increased. She was still gazing at her husband as one shut up in a room with a snake might gaze at it, waiting for it to strike.
“Ella didn’t tell you that I was coming?” said he. “She had the best of reasons for her reticence.”
“Ah!”
The sound came from Ella. There was a little scornful smile on her face.