“I do wish it,” said Angela.
“Then I will say nothing more. Pen, I am disappointed; I am bitterly hurt, but I will say nothing more.”
He took the child’s hand, held it for a minute, looked into her face, and said:
“Why, I do believe you have suffered, you poor bit of a thing.”
Then he abruptly kissed her on her forehead and left the room.
Chapter Twenty Three.
Nesta Lost Again.
The Aldworths were in a state of confusion. Mrs Aldworth was anxious; Nurse Davenant was keeping the worst from her, but nevertheless she was anxious. Molly and Ethel were so firmly desired on no account to give themselves away, that they were absolutely excluded from the room. They were loud in their denunciations of Nesta.