“Yes?” he said, raising his eyebrows a little.
“I will stay here for a time, where, as you say, I can be at rest and safe from intrusion. We will see what time brings forth.”
“Spoken like a thoughtful, wise little woman,” said Garstang, without the slightest display of elation. “By the way, you find plenty of books to read?”
“Oh, yes, and I have been studying the old china.”
“A very interesting subject; but music—you are fond of music. We must see about that.”
He nodded and smiled, and then she saw that he became very calm and thoughtful, as if immersed in his business affairs.
Once more she was quite alone, thinking that she had been a whole week in the solemn old house, and a few minutes later the housekeeper entered to clear away the breakfast things.
“Is there anything I can do for you, ma’am?” said the woman sadly, when she had finished her task, Kate noticing the while that there was an occasional whisper outside the door, as the various articles were handed out.
“No, I think not, this morning, Sarah,” said Kate, with a smile which proved infectious, for the woman stood staring at her for a few moments as if in wonder, and then her own countenance relaxed stiffly, as if she had not smiled in years, till her face looked nearly cheerful.
“You are handsome, ma’am,” she said; “I haven’t seen you look like that before since you’ve been here.”