'I have, indeed, dear; haven't I? Well, I will.'
And, standing, he drank nearly half the cup she had poured out for him, and set it down, and felt in his pocket, she thought, for his keys.
'Are you looking for anything, Willie, darling? Your keys are in my basket.'
'No, darling; no, darling—nothing. I have everything I want. I think I must go to the Lodge and see Mr. Larkin, for a moment.'
'But you have eaten nothing,' remonstrated his partner; 'you must not go until you have eaten something.'
'Time enough, darling; I can't wait—I sha'n't be away twenty minutes—time enough when I come back.'
'Have you heard anything of Mark, darling?' she enquired eagerly.
'Of Mark? Oh, no!—nothing of Mark.' And he added with a deep sigh, 'Oh, dear! I wonder he does not write—no, nothing of Mark.'
She followed him into the hall.
'Now, Willie darling, you must not go till you have had your breakfast—you will make yourself ill—indeed you will—do come back, just to please me, and eat a little first.'