'To—to see him——? Sidwell! What can you mean?'
'I have a reason for wishing to hear from his own lips the whole truth.'
'But we know the whole truth!—What can you be thinking of, dear? Who is this Mr. Peak that you should ask him to come and see you, under any circumstances?'
It would never have occurred to Sidwell to debate with her mother on subtle questions of character and motive, but the agitation of her nerves made it difficult for her to keep silence under these vapid outcries. She desired to be alone; commonplace discussion of the misery that had come upon her was impossible. A little more strain, and she would be on the point of tears, a weakness she was resolute to avoid.
'Let me think quietly for an hour or two,' she said, moving away. 'It's quite certain that I must stay here till to-morrow. When Buckland has gone, we can talk again.'
'But, Sidwell'——
'If you insist, I must leave the house, and find a refuge somewhere else.'
Mrs. Warricombe tossed her head.
'Oh, if I am not permitted to speak to you! I only hope you won't have occasion to remember my warning! Such extraordinary behaviour was surely never known! I should have thought'——
Sidwell was by this time out of the room. Safe in privacy she sat down as if to pen a letter. From an hour's agitated thought, the following lines resulted: