While I spoke I held her hand, which I softly stroked. In a few minutes I stole out of the room. George was still lingering about on the landing.
“Well, well?” he whispered.
“Don’t whisper, George, but come down-stairs with me at once; I want to write a letter, and I want you to take it for me.”
I sat down at my mother’s desk in the drawing-room and scribbled a hasty line:
“Dear Mr Gray,—
“I will fulfil the conditions of Cousin Geoffrey’s will. Please give George a hundred pounds to bring back with him.
“Yours very truly,—
“Rosamund Lindley.”
George was looking over my shoulder as I wrote.
“You must get some of that money in small change,” I said, looking up at him. “And then you are to buy all the things I have mentioned in this list. Don’t forget one of them, and come back by the first possible train.”
While I was speaking to George my father came into the room.
“It’s all right,” I said; “and George is going to town to get the things we shall immediately require. Now go, George, and be quick. Father, I want to speak to you.”
“What is it, Rose?”