“Nonsense, I didn’t mean to say that. I dare say he will take it very much as you do. But you will both be wrong, both be wrong.”
“Isabel, you are mysterious.”
“Am I?” she asked with a laugh, not a very joyous one.
“Yes, more mysterious than I like.”
“Then indeed it won’t be mysterious at all. It’s only in your imagination, Rose. Oh dear, oh dear!” she sighed, “this world is a hard one!”
“I wonder whether you will hear from Mr. Lacour?” Mrs. Stratton asked, after trying to read her friend’s face.
“I wonder,” said Isabel absently.
Their conversation soon came to an end. There was to be driving before lunch as the sky had cleared, and it was not till afternoon that Isabel had an opportunity of informing her cousin of the news she had received.
Robert heard it calmly.
“I really do not know whether to congratulate you or not,” he said, with meaning.