With some haste Anstice excused himself; and after a courteous repetition of the invitation Sir Richard did not press the matter.
Mrs. Carstairs was at home, and alone; and in a moment the two men were ushered into her pretty drawing-room, where she sat, book in hand, over a dancing wood-fire.
She looked up in some surprise as the door opened to admit visitors; but on seeing Sir Richard she rose with a welcoming smile.
"Sir Richard! How good of you to take pity on me on a day like this!" She greeted the old man with almost daughterly affection; and then turned to Anstice with a rather forced expression of cordiality.
"You, too, Dr. Anstice! How sorry Cherry will be to have missed you!"
"Is she in bed, then?"
"Yes, I'm sorry to say she was a naughty girl and was put to bed immediately after tea!" She laughed a little, and Anstice asked, smiling, what had been the extent of Cherry's latest misdemeanour.
"Oh, nothing very serious," said Chloe lightly. "It was really to soothe Tochatti's wounded feelings that I had to banish the poor child. It seems that one day last week, while out walking with Tochatti, Cherry noticed a house in the village with all its blinds down; and on inquiring the reason Tochatti informed her that someone was dead in the house; further entering, so I gather, into full details as to the manner in which Catholics decorate the death-chamber."
"Oh?" Anstice looked rather blank. "But I don't see——"