Luckily for her their conversation was cut short at that moment by the entrance of Herrick, accompanied by Olga, and followed by the maid bearing the tea-tray.
When the lamp had been lighted and the maid had withdrawn, Herrick shot a glance at the face of his wife's visitor; and he saw at once that something was wrong.
He did not betray his knowledge by the slightest sign; but talked to the two girls in his usual kindly, whimsical fashion while Eva dispensed tea.
"All the boats are really put away for the winter now," he said presently. "I think yours—and ours—have been the last, Mrs. Rose. We have had such wonderfully mild weather; but I'm afraid we shan't get any more boating this season."
"Shan't we?" Toni sighed faintly. "I'm sorry—I have enjoyed the river so much."
"Yes. We've had a glorious summer. But after all the winter will soon pass and we'll be getting the boats out again."
"I hope we shan't be here when it's time to get the boats out," said Eva crisply. "A winter here would just about finish me off."
"Oh, it's not bad," Herrick rejoined. "Sometimes it is quite pleasant all the year round—though we get a fog now and again, of course."
"I don't propose remaining to sample the fogs," said Eva quietly. "Of course you will do as you choose, but seeing I've never been properly warm for months—we don't have nice fires in prison, you know—I think you owe it to me to take me somewhere sunny this winter."
Herrick's face clouded, as it always did at any reference to Eva's prison life; and Toni felt desperately uncomfortable.