"No, it isn't," he interrupted eagerly. "I've been every night this week."
"Ah, eavesdropping again," she said, touched.
"I wanted to be absolutely sure—and then I couldn't pluck up courage to write to you."
"But you did to-night?"
"You looked so tired—I felt I wanted to protect you."
A sob came into her throat, but she managed to say coldly, "Was I very bad?"
"To one who had seen you the other nights," he said with complimentary candour.
She laughed. "How is your mother?"
"Oh, she's very well, thank you. She lives in London now."
"Then your father has retired from—"