“Yes, dear. I tell you I lie here for many hours thinking about you both. I want to speak about Leo and—Mr North.”
“Yes,” said Salis gravely, as Leo’s manner when the servant came from the Hall flashed upon his mind. “What do you wish to say?”
“Do you consider that there is any engagement between them?”
“I hardly know what to say. North seemed deeply attached to her.”
“Yes,” said Mary; “but I have felt puzzled by his manner lately. He has not been.”
“And he has not sent her flowers as he used.”
“No; I have noticed that. Has Mr North felt that Leo has slighted him in any way.”
“Why, Mary,” cried Salis excitedly, “what a brain you have! My dear child, you have hit upon the cause of his strange manner. You noticed—you noticed Leo’s manner when the news came of Candlish’s illness—for I suppose I must call it so.”
“Yes,” said Mary, with a sigh. “I noticed it.”
“And North must have seen something. Mary, my girl, what shall I do?”