‘I’ll see, ma’am,’ answered the girl cautiously. ‘What name?’
‘Say Miss Adrian, on important business.’
The girl asked Ruth inside the hall, closed the door, and went in search of her master.
Ruth went hot and cold, and trembled violently. A sudden revulsion of feeling came on her, and she seized the handle of the door to open it and fly.
At that moment the girl returned and requested Ruth to follow her.
Hardly knowing how she walked across the hall, Ruth obeyed, and was shown into an empty room.
A minute afterwards Marston entered.
‘Miss Adrian,’ he said, bowing, ‘to what fortunate circumstance am I indebted for this visit?’
He spoke in an easy tone of every-day politeness. His expressive features belied the indifference he endeavoured to assume.
‘I beg your pardon,’ gasped Ruth, ‘but——’ Then her brave spirit gave way. Distressed, terrified at the position in which she found herself, a thousand old memories of the times past rushed upon her, and, bursting into tears, she buried her face in her hands.