"You seemed alarmed. Or annoyed."
"Well," returned Mark, speaking rather fast, "and it is annoying to have business fellows corning after me to my house. Why can't they go to the offices?"
"To be sure," said Caroline, reassured. "I'd not see a soul here, if I were you."
He had been walking on towards the hall-door while he spoke. But ere he had well reached it, he turned, and drew his wife into one of the rooms.
"Look here, Caroline: I'm not sure but I shall have to go down to the mines tonight. If so, it is just possible I may not be able to come here first. So you won't be alarmed if you don't see me home."
"What a hurry you must be in!" exclaimed Caroline. "Not come home first!"
"But if I do go, mind, it will be on a little private matter that I don't want known," he continued, taking no notice of the remark. "So, if anybody should ask where I am, just answer that you can't tell, but that I shall be back in a day or two. Do you understand, Carine?"
"Quite well. But, Mark, you will come home first, won't you?"
"I only tell you this in case I don't come," he answered evasively. "I have a good deal to do today. Goodbye, Carine."
"But about Hendon?" she interrupted.