'Will you come to the library after breakfast, Sidwell?' he said, on meeting her in the hall.
She interpreted his tone, and her heart misgave her. An hour later she obeyed the summons. Martin greeted her with a smile, but hardly tried to appear at ease.
'I am obliged to speak to you,' were his first words. 'The letter you had yesterday was from Mr. Peak?'
'Yes, father.'
'Is he'—Mr. Warricombe hesitated—'in these parts again?'
'No; in Lancashire.'
'Sidwell, I claim no right whatever to control your correspondence; but it was a shock to me to find that you are in communication with him.'
'He wrote,' Sidwell replied with difficulty, 'to let me know of a change that has come upon his prospects. By the death of a friend, he is made independent.'
'For his own sake, I am glad to hear that. But how could it concern you, dear?'
She struggled to command herself.