While Louise was speaking Lady Dashwood's face had first expressed astonishment, and then it relaxed into amusement, and when her maid stopped speaking for want of breath, she sank down upon a chair and burst into laughter.
"My poor Louise?" she said. "You never will understand English people. If Mrs. Dashwood and the Warden are behind the window curtains, it is because they want to look out of the window!"
Louise's face became passionately sceptical.
"In the rain, Madame!" she remarked. "In a darkness of the tomb?"
"Yes, in the rain and darkness," said Lady Dashwood. "You must go down again in a moment, and give them my message!"
CHAPTER VII
MEN MARCHING PAST
After the Warden had closed the door on his sister he came back to the fireplace. He had been interrupted, and he stood silently with his hand on the back of the chair, just as he had stood before. He was waiting, perhaps, for an invitation to speak; for some sign from Mrs. Dashwood that now that they were alone together, she expected him to talk on, freely.