"Anne, I have not understood you these last few days."
The address took me by surprise, for there had been a long silence. He did not raise his eyes to mine as he spoke, but kept them on the walnuts.
"Have you not, sir?"
"What could have induced you to intrude into the west wing, to-day? Pardon the word, if it grates upon your ear; that part of Chandos House is private; private and sacred; known to be so by all inmates; and, for any one to enter unsolicited, is an intrusion."
"I am sorry that I went in—very sorry; no one can repent of it now more than I do; but I had an urgent motive for wishing to see Lady Chandos. I wish to see her still, if possible; I do not like to quit Chandos without it."
"You are not going to quit Chandos?"
"I leave to-morrow, if it be practicable. If not, the next day."
"No," he said; "it must not be. I act for my mother, and refuse her sanction."
Too vexed to answer, too vexed to remain at table, I rose and went to the fire, standing with my back to him.
"What has changed you?" he abruptly asked.