"Some people always look so. I believe she is strong enough; we were always from the first led to expect a rather fragile person."
This was an unwise speech of Mrs. Linchmore's, as it recalled Mrs. Elrington at once to her husband's mind, and he asked—
"Have you received any reply to the letter you wrote to Mrs. Elrington, Isabella?"
"Yes. Miss Neville gave me a message to the effect that she did not intend," said she sarcastically, "honouring our poor house with a visit."
"Did she write to Miss Neville?"
"I fancy not. I think it was mentioned by Mrs. Neville, in a letter she wrote from Ashleigh."
"And Mrs. Elrington has never answered your letter?"
"No. I suppose she thought the message good enough for us."
There was no quivering of the lip, no tell-tale blood in her cheeks, nothing to betray the falsehood she was telling, save her eyes, and those she still bent down. She could not have met her husband's gaze.