"Not that man who has come to live at Vandon?"
"Yes."
Another long silence.
"When was it?"
"Ten days ago."
"Ten days ago," repeated Charles, mechanically, and his face worked. "Ten days ago!"
"It is not given out yet," said Ruth, hesitating, "because Mr. Alwynn does not wish it during Lord Polesworth's absence. I never thought of any mistake being caused by not mentioning it. I would not have come here if I had had the least idea that—"
"You cannot mean to say that you had never seen that I—what I—felt for you?"
"Indeed I never thought of such a thing until two minutes before you said it. I am very sorry I did not, but I imagined—"
"Let me hear what you imagined."