“I hope he will come to see his old pupil before he leaves the neighbourhood.”
“He means to do so. He was talking of it yesterday evening—asking Mrs. Hillersdon if she was intimate with you—so awkward for poor Mrs. Hillersdon.”
“I shall be very glad to see him again.”
“May I drive him over to tea to-morrow afternoon?”
“He will be welcome here at any time.”
“Or with any one? If Mrs. Hillersdon were to bring him, would you still refuse to receive her?”
“I have never refused to receive her. We have met and talked to each other on public occasions. If Mr. Cancellor likes her she cannot be unworthy.”
“May she come with him to-morrow?” persisted Castellani.
“If she likes,” faltered Mildred, wondering that any woman could so force an entrance to another woman’s house.
She did not know that it was by such forced entrances Mrs. Hillersdon had made her way in society until some of the best houses in London had been opened to her.