Awdrey did not speak for a moment.
"You are better now," he said then, in a stony tone. "Is your husband here?"
"Yes, but I don't want him."
Hetty, in her excitement, laid both hands on the Squire's arm.
"Mr. Robert, I must see you, and alone," she panted.
Awdrey stepped back instinctively.
"You don't want me to touch you, you don't want to have anything to do with me, and yet—and yet, Mr. Robert, I must see you by yourself. When I can see you alone?"
"I cannot stay with you now," said Awdrey, in a hurried voice. "Come up to the house to-morrow. No, though, I shall have no time to attend to you to-morrow."
"It must be to-morrow, sir. It is life or death; yes, it is life or death."
"Well, to-morrow let it be," said Awdrey, after a pause, "six o'clock in the evening. Don't call at the house, come round to the office. I'll be there and I'll give you a few minutes. Now I see you are better," he continued, "I'll go back to the barn and fetch Vincent."