The question was not addressed to any particular individual; and Diana, who was standing near the door by which Mr. Sheldon entered, took upon herself to answer it.
"I think he is very anxious," she said in a half whisper.
"What brought him here just now? He did not know we were coming home."
Mrs. Woolper answered this question.
"He came for something for Miss Charlotte, sir; some books as she'd had from the library. They'd not been sent back; and he came to see about their being sent."
"What books?" murmured Charlotte. But a pressure from Mrs. Woolper's hand prevented her saying more.
"I never encountered any one with so little self-command," said Mr. Sheldon. "If he is going to rush in and out of my house in that manner, I must really put a stop to his visits altogether. I cannot suffer that kind of thing. For Charlotte's welfare quiet is indispensable; and if Mr. Hawkehurst's presence is to bring noise and excitement, Mr. Hawkehurst must not cross this threshold."
He spoke with suppressed anger; with such evident effort to restrain his anger, that it would have seemed as if his indignation against Valentine was no common wrath.
Charlotte caught his last words.
"Dear papa," she pleaded in her faint voice, "pray do not be angry with
Valentine; he is so anxious about me."