“I’ve never been there, but I shouldn’t think it was very good for them,” said Cyril.
“Wouldn’t it be the best plan for Ivor to stay with us and have a governess?” she suggested.
“Well, I suppose that is for Chips to settle.”
“When you talk of her settling do you realise that Evan has very odd views about children and that he is a little obstinate sometimes?”
“What are you getting at, Sue?” he asked. “I haven’t studied the insect world enough to be always sure what particular idea you are after. If you will tell me the shape of twig you want to resemble——”
“I haven’t an idea what you are talking about, Cyril, but I was asking for Evangeline’s sake. You always seem to understand men so much better than I do.”
“That is because they say what they mean,” he replied. “There is no difficulty about that.”
Mrs. Vachell scarcely recognised Evangeline when she rose out of a corner of the shop lounge where they had arranged to meet. She was not only thin and heavy-eyed, but she looked hunted. Behind the sphinx face that looked into hers bitter pity was hard at work. “My dear child,” Mrs. Vachell said, holding out both her hands, “don’t worry. It is perfectly all right.”
“But you don’t know,” said Evangeline in a low, frightened voice. “I haven’t told you. He is going to Egypt and insists on my going too. Ivor is to be sent away——” Her voice broke.