CHAPTER XVI
Revelation
“YOUR daughter has not been rescued this time, Mrs. Berkley; I am merely her favoured cavalier,” explained Kit, delivering little Anne into her mother’s hands.
“Thank you, Kit.” Mrs. Berkley spoke with difficulty for little Anne had her around the neck in a hug that implied a long separation. “Mr. Berkley is on the side piazza with Peter, and Antony is here. Joan has taken the baby and left him. Why don’t you join them there?”
“I always knew it would come to a separation between Joan and Antony,” said Kit, gratefully accepting a respite from returning home.
“And you knew it would be only for the length of a day and night, didn’t you?”
Mrs. Berkley looked sharply at Kit’s perturbed face. “Come, Anne; you must be made presentable for dinner. Stay to dinner with us, please, Kit.”
“I can’t be made presentable,” he said, glancing at his tramping clothes, and betraying his desire to stay.
“That doesn’t matter; we are alone. Anne has obligations. One is that her clothes are here; yours aren’t! Stay, Kit, dear, won’t you?” Mrs. Berkley urged him.
“Gratefully,” said Kit, “if you’ll put up with me. I think I may go away to-morrow.”