She moved away from him, and with her shaking finger began to cut the pages of a book that lay open on the mantelpiece. The little mechanical action seemed gradually to restore her to self-control.
"I don't think I can talk about it," she said at last, with an effort; "not now."
"Oh! I know," said Frank, in penitence, looking at her black dress; "you've been upset, and had such a lot of trouble. But I—"
She laid her hand on his shoulder. He thought he had never seen her so beautiful, pale as she was.
"I'm not the least angry. I'll tell you so—another day. Now, are you going to Betty?"
The young fellow sprang up, all his expression changing, answering to the stimulus of the word.
"They'll be home directly, Miss Raeburn and Betty," he said steadily, buttoning his coat; "they'd gone out calling somewhere. Oh! she'll lead me a wretched life, will Betty, before she's done!"
A charming little ghost of a smile crossed Marcella's white lips.
"Probably Betty knows her business," she said; "if she's quite unmanageable, send her to me."
In his general turmoil of spirits the boy caught her hand and kissed it—would have liked, indeed, to kiss her and all the world. But she laughed, and sent him away, and with a sly, lingering look at her he departed.