He had now a clue to the reason of Annot's reluctance to leave Earlshaugh, of her protracted visit as the guest of Mrs. Lindsay, and why latterly she had so mysteriously and sedulously cultivated the friendship of that lady.
The question, was it honourable to remain where he was, flashed across Roland's mind! It was not incompatible with honour under the peculiar circumstances, so he heard more.
'That nonsense has surely come to an end, or are you still engaged to him?' said Hawkey, who held her hands in his.
Annot was silent. Could she be temporizing yet?
'Do you think he loves you as well as I do?' urged Hawkey Sharpe, bending over her.
Still she was silent.
'If so, why has he ever left you, even for an hour, to shoot and so forth, as he has often done? Speak, Annot. Surely I may call you Annot now.'
Still there was no reply. It seemed as if she was thinking deeply—thinking how best to reply, to play her cards or to temporize; but to what end, when all was over between her and Roland now?
'You were engaged to him?' said Hawkey again, with a little impatience of manner.
'By a chain of circumstances over which I had no control,' replied Annot in a faltering voice; 'in his uncle's house at Merlwood I was——'