“To set your mother’s heart at rest—and hers.”
“Oh, very well, when you like; but hold hard a minute.”
“Rob!” cried Mrs Rolph in dismay, for her heart was beating fast with hope, and his words had arrested the throbbing.
“I can’t have two of my important meetings interfered with. I’ve the Bray Bridge handicap, and a glove fight I must attend.”
“Rob, my darling!”
“But I must go to them. The confounded service takes up so much of my time, that I’ve neglected my athletics shamefully.”
Marjorie came in from the garden just then, and as she appeared at the French window, the careworn, hunted look in her eyes, and a suggestion of twitching about the corners of her lips, fully justified her athletic cousin’s disparaging remarks.
“Ah, my darling!” cried Mrs Rolph, rising.
“I beg pardon, aunt dear. I did not know you and Rob were engaged.”
“Don’t go, dearest,” said Mrs Rolph, holding out her hands, her tone of voice making Marjories eyes dilate, and as she began to tremble violently, a deathly pallor overspread her cheeks, and she tottered and then sank sobbing in Mrs Rolph’s arms.