She led him to the dining-room, and he gave himself over to her care, cast down and helpless. The table had not yet been cleared away.
“Is father well?” he asked at last, a little fearfully.
“He shut himself up in his study after dinner,” answered Margaret, “to work, while I was undressing little Julian. I’ll go and tell him.”
“No, Margaret, please don’t.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then—has he changed much?” he murmured, after a heavy silence.
“Yes.”
He was hungry, but he dared not eat the things which she went and got for him herself in the kitchen. She understood, and when she saw he did not notice, she hurried away to her father in his study.
“Father, he’s here!” she cried.