"I want to speak to you—please, Janet."
Janet looked round in astonishment and put down her work. Rachel was standing by the fire, with her hands behind her back, her eyes fixed on Janet. She was still in the graceful tunic and knee-breeches, in which her young and splendid youth seemed always most at home. But she had taken off her cap, and her brown hair was falling round a pale face.
"Janet—you know Captain Ellesborough and I had a long talk last night?"
Janet smiled.
"Of course I do. And of course I have my own thoughts about it!"
"I don't know what they are," said Rachel slowly. "But—I'd better tell you—Captain Ellesborough asked me to marry him."
She paused.
"Did you think that would be news to any of us?" said Janet, laughing, and then stopped. The sudden contraction of pain in Rachel's face, and something like a sob startled her.
"Don't, Janet, please. I told him something—which made him wonder—whether he did want to marry me after all."
Janet's heart gave an uncomfortable jump. A score of past conjectures and misgivings rushed back upon her.