Miss Floyd did not make any answer to this, nor did her face regain its natural hue during the whole of the homeward walk. She was very silent, only replying in the briefest manner to Talbot's inquiries.
"I am sure that you are ill, Aurora," he said, as they ascended the terrace steps.
"I am ill."
"But, dearest, what is it? Let me tell Mrs. Alexander, or Mrs. Powell. Let me go back to Beckenham for the doctor."
She looked at him with a mournful earnestness in her eyes.
"My foolish Talbot," she said, "do you remember what Macbeth said to his doctor? There are diseases that cannot be ministered to. Let me alone; you will know soon enough—you will know very soon, I dare say."
"But, Aurora, what do you mean by this? What can there be upon your mind?"
"Ah, what indeed! Let me alone, let me alone, Captain Bulstrode."
He had caught her hand; but she broke from him, and ran up the staircase, in the direction of her own apartments.
Talbot hurried to Lucy, with a pale, frightened, face.