He knew that he was wasting his words. There was a pause, and he felt that they were all three laughing at him—yes, Robin as well. He had only made a fool of himself; they could not understand how much he had expected during those weary years of waiting—how much he had expected and how much he had missed.
Clare looked round the room and was relieved to find that only Beldam was present. If one of the family was bent on being absurd, it was as well that there should only be one of the servants to hear him.
"You know that you are to be on your trial this afternoon, Harry?" she said.
"My trial?" he repeated, bewildered.
"Yes—it's my at-home day, you know—first Thursdays—and, of course, they'll all come to see you. We shall have the whole town——" She looked at him a little anxiously; so much depended on how he behaved, and she wasn't completely reassured by his present manner.
If he astonished them all this afternoon by saying things about the Cove like that, it would be too terrible!
"How horrible!" he said, laughing. "I'm very much afraid that I shan't do you justice, Clare. I'm no good at small conversation."
His treating it so lightly made it worse, and she wondered how she could force him to realise the seriousness of it.
"All the nicest people in Pendragon," she said; "and they are rather ridiculously critical, and of course they talk."
He looked at her and laughed. "I wish they were Maories," he said, "I shouldn't be nearly so frightened!"