“I did not know that Rupert was going to India,” she said at last, raising them desperately and fixing them on Mrs. Acheson.
“Perhaps he did not like to tell you, my love. From the way he spoke I rather judged that he had only just got his appointment. Of course you must know in the end. He feels so very full of sympathy for you, Annie.”
Annie got up. She made an excuse to leave the room; she felt that she could not contain herself another moment.
“Give me his address, dear, before you go,” said Mrs. Acheson. “I think it might be best for me to send him a telegram. Where is he staying?”
Annie turned, stood bolt upright, and uttered as if she was charging the words out of a cannon:
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know where your brother is staying? That does seem strange. But has he no permanent address?”
“Dear me, mother,” said Belle from the other end of the room, “does that matter? A man with Mr. Colchester’s extensive tastes doubtless cares little where he
lays his head at night. He is, I presume, at one of the hotels. There are many hotels in London; have you not discovered that yet?”
“I never thought of the hotels,” said Mrs. Acheson in an apologetic voice. “He did not happen to tell you which one he was staying at, my love?”