It was just when Edie had reached this point and she was stirring her tea, and thinking how easily she could settle matters if she were at the head of affairs, so as to make everybody happy, herself included, when her uncle made his malapropos remarks.
There was no more sunshine in the dining room after that. Myra looked cold and pale, the admiral was uncomfortable behind the paper, in which he enveloped himself as in a cloud, from which came a hand at intervals to feel about the table in an absurd way for toast or his coffee cup, which was twice over nearly overturned.
Then he became visible for a moment or two as he turned the paper, but it closed him in again, and from behind it there came, now and then, a fidgeting nervous cough, which was as annoying to the utterer as to those who listened.
“Going out to-day, girls?” asked Sir Mark at last, but without removing the paper.
“Yes, uncle,” said Edie sharply, for her cousin had given her an imploring look, and the girl could see that Myra was greatly agitated still; “the carriage is coming round at two. Shall we drop you at the club?”
“Great Heavens!” ejaculated the old man in a tone which startled both his hearers, and as if expectant from some premonition, Myra thrust back her chair, and sat gazing at the paper wildly.
“What is it, uncle?” cried Edie.
“Eh? Oh, nothing, my dear,” said Sir Mark confusedly, as he rustled the paper and hurriedly turned it. “More horrors. These editors seem to revel in them, or the public do. So shocking; no sooner is one at an end, than another begins.”
He had screened his face again as quickly as he could, for he was a miserable dissembler, and Edie and Myra exchanged glances. Then, rising slowly with her hand pressed to her breast, Myra made as if she would go to the other side of the table, but her strength failed her, and as her father cleared his throat with a sonorous cough, she clung to the edge, crumpling up the white cloth in her damp fingers.
Edie rose too, but throwing up her head, Myra motioned her back imperiously, and stood for a few moments with her lips parted and eyes dilated, gazing at the paper, as if devouring its contents, while from behind it came the admiral’s voice with forced carelessness.