“I cannot see this visit out,” I said, under my breath; “I cannot even spend a second night under this roof. I must go away, I must return home, for never, never can I fulfil the conditions of Cousin Geoffrey’s will.”
At this moment Captain Valentine came up and offered me his arm. I was relieved to find that my other cousin was not to take me in to dinner; but matters were scarcely improved for me when I discovered that he sat exactly at the opposite side of the table, and that I could scarcely raise my eyes without encountering his.
“We were greatly disappointed not to meet you in the Chamber of Myths,” said Captain Valentine. “I think Lady Ursula very nearly cried. The fact is, you have roused her profoundest interest, Miss Lindley.”
“I am very much obliged to Lady Ursula,” I answered.
“It was cruel to disappoint us all,” pursued Captain Valentine, “particularly when you gave no adequate reason.”
“That was just it,” I retorted. “Had I come I should not have been entertaining. I had no news to bring—I had nothing to say.”
“But you promised to tell us something of the contents of the letter.”
“I found I could not keep my promise. That letter, as far as we, any of us, are concerned, might as well never have been written.”
“Indeed!” Captain Valentine looked at me long and curiously. I kept my eyes fixed on my plate.
When he spoke next it was on matters of indifference.