“Friends!” said Macloud. “Are there such things as friends, when one has been unfortunate?”
“I can answer only for myself,” she replied earnestly.
“I believe you, Elaine——”
“Then tell me this—is he in this country or abroad?”
“In this country,” he said, after a pause.
“Is he in want,—I mean, in want for the things he has been used to?”
“He is not in want, I can assure you!—and much that he was used to having, he has no use for, now. Our wants are relative, you know.”
“Why did he leave Northumberland so suddenly?” she asked.
“To reduce expenses. He was forced to give up the old life, so he chose wisely, I think—to go where his income was sufficient for his needs.”
“But is it sufficient?” she demanded.