She inquired in anxious tones if she could have a sight of the master. Mootoo at once showed the visitors into the long library, which was untenanted. The pair remained in a standing posture, Mrs. Rouat's eyes wandering over the room with keen curiosity, while even her niece could not restrain her interest in the interior of the abode with whose exterior she had been familiar all her life.
"Whatt an expense all these prettee books must have been to ship over the black water!" remarked Mrs. Rouat, glancing with awe at the well-filled shelves. "I wonder now if he reads them," she added, recalling with a sigh how long it took her to toil through a single page of print. Leila, who devoured many second-hand yellow backs, smiled with secret scorn at her aunt's remark.
A step was heard approaching, and the master of the house appeared in the doorway. His face wore a puzzled expression as he could not recall that rotund figure with the flabby face framed by cinnamon-hued curls, who rose to meet him with a broad smile and outstretched hands. Leila he knew by sight, and from Mrs. Fellowes' description was able to identify her as the girl who had obtruded herself mysteriously into the verandah at Clive's Road. He decided that the visit must have some connection with her—perhaps she had repented of her resentful attitude and was wishing to connect herself with the Girls' Club.
With this thought passing rapidly through his mind he begged his visitors to be seated; but Mrs. Rouat did not long leave him in doubt as to the reason of her call.
"You don't recognise an old acquaintance, Mr. Morpeth?" she asked, setting her head on one side and looking up into his face. "Leastways, an acquaintance of your late wife, Rosina. Ah, she was a prettee creature!" she added, with a heavy manufactured sigh.
Mr. Morpeth still looked mystified, so she continued in a higher key:
"So you don't mind Tilly Buttons as used to live next door to your Rosina in Chandrychoke? But I've got one of the best houses in the quarter now, though I'm onlee a poor widow. I was well endowed by the late Mr. Rouat. Ah, he was a good husband."
Recollection was dawning on Mr. Morpeth.
"Yes, I remember your name," he said slowly. "And you are a widow now. Time brings changes!"
He glanced now at Leila, who sat with a constrained air, averting her eyes.