"Nothing of grave importance has happened. I want to speak to you."
"I was afraid something was the matter," he said, more easily. "What is it?"
He took the seat opposite to her, and she was dismayed to observe the alteration in him. She contemplated him a few seconds irresolutely.
"Philip," she said, "this afternoon Miss Brettan was anxious to tell me something; she was anxious to make me her confidant. And I wouldn't listen to her."
"Oh?" he said.... "And you wouldn't listen to her?"
"No, I wouldn't listen to her. I said, 'My son shall tell me, or I won't hear.' This afternoon I had no more idea of sending for you than you had of coming. But I have been thinking it over; she's in your mother's house, and she's the woman you love. You do love her, Philip?"
"I asked her to be my wife," he answered simply.
"I thought so. And she refused you?"
"Yes, she refused me. If I haven't told you before, it was because she refused me. To have spoken of it to you would have been to give pain—needless pain—to you and to her."
Mrs. Kincaid considered.