He lifted the paper to turn it. She drew it away.
“Never mind the Chinese. You will have time—your whole life—for them.”
“My whole life!” He laughed. “By Jove! we mean to settle them in less than a month—judging by the telegrams. Just let me have a look at the summary, dear.”
“But I want to speak to you.”
“You have spoken. It was to tell me about Edred, wasn’t it?”
“About Edred—yes.”
“You haven’t had a letter from him? You don’t know anything but that?” He pointed to the paper.
She shook her head.
“I’ve never had a letter from him since he left; but this,” she put her finger on the words, “has decided me. The mere look of the letters put together to form him was enough. Can’t you guess, Jethro? You are not stupid.”
“Guess!” An angry darkness suddenly overspread his face. “Guess what?”