She made no reply. He drew a chair close to her and sat down.
"Maude," he said, speaking all the more gently for his recent outbreak, "you must be aware that you do not recover as quickly as we could wish—"
"I do not recover at all," she interrupted. "I don't want to recover."
"My dear, how can you talk so? There is nothing the matter with you but weakness, and that will soon be overcome if you exert yourself."
"No, it won't. I shall not leave home."
"Somewhere you must go, for the workmen are coming into the house; and for the next two months it will not be habitable."
"Who is bringing them in?" she asked, with flashing eyes.
"You know it was decided long ago that the house should be done up this summer. It wants it badly enough. Torbay—"
"I will not go to Torbay, Lord Hartledon. If I am to be turned out of this house, I'll go to the other."
"What other?"