Lord Lackington broke off suddenly and threw himself into his chair.
Warkworth rose from his.
"We had better have been handing nails," he said, "but you wouldn't give us any work." Then, as Meredith and Delafield approached, he seized the opportunity of saying, in a low voice:
"Am I not to have a word?"
She turned with composure, though it seemed to him she was very pale.
"Have you just come back from the Isle of Wight?"
"This morning." He looked her in the eyes. "You got my letters?"
"Yes, but I have had no time for writing. I hope you found your mother well."
"Very well, thank you. You have been hard at work?"
"Yes, but the Duchess and Mr. Delafield have made it all easy."