"It does me good to hear you say that!"
He moved from his distant place, and threw himself in one of his usual careless attitudes on a nearer chair. "But Miriam has no faith in me, not a jot! Does she speak harshly of me to you?"
"No."
Cecily shook her head, and seemed unable to speak more than the monosyllable.
"But she has nothing encouraging to say? She shows that she looks upon me as one of whom no good can come? That is the impression you have received from her?"
Cecily looked at him gravely.
"She has scarcely spoken of you at all—scarcely more than the few words that were inevitable."
"In itself a condemnation."
Cecily was mute. Before Elgar could say anything more, the door opened. With a sudden radiance on her features, the girl looked up to greet Mrs. Lessingham's entrance.
"How long you have been, aunt!"