She threw back a keen glance at Marcella. Lady Ermyntrude and Raeburn came forward.
"I made him be quiet," said Ermyntrude, not looking, however, quite at her ease; "it would have been a shame to interrupt."
"I think so, indeed!" said Lady Selina, with emphasis. "Good-bye, dear Lady Winterbourne; good-bye, Miss Boyce! You have comforted me very much! Of course one is sorry for the poor; but it is a great thing to hear from anybody who knows as much about it as you do, that—after all—it is no crime—to possess a little!"
She stood smiling, looking from the girl to the man—then, escorted by
Raeburn in his very stiffest manner, she swept out of the room.
When Aldous came back, with a somewhat slow and hesitating step, he approached Marcella, who was standing silent by the window, and asked after the lame arm. He was sorry, he said, to see that it was still in its sling. His tone was a little abrupt. Only Lady Winterbourne saw the quick nervousness of the eyes,
"Oh! thank you," said Marcella, coldly, "I shall get back to work next week."
She stooped and took up her book.
"I must please go and write some letters," she said, in answer to Lady
Winterbourne's flurried look.
And she walked away. Betty and Lady Ermyntrude also went to take off their things.
"Aldous!" said Lady Winterbourne, holding out her hand to him.