"Perhaps she repents!" The tone was dry and short; it flung a challenge to misdoing.
"I doubt it! But Roger?" French stood still, pondering. "Keep him, darling—intercept him if you can. If he must see her, I will come out. But we mustn't risk a shock."
They consulted a little in low voices. Then French went into the house and Elsie came back to her children. She stood thinking, her fine face, so open-browed and purely lined, frowning and distressed.
"You wished to see me, Mrs. Barnes?"
French had closed the door of the study behind him and stood without offering to shake hands with his visitor, coldly regarding her.
Daphne rose from her seat, reddening involuntarily.
"My name is no longer what you once knew it, Mr. French. I sent you my card."
French made a slight inclination and pointed to the chair from which she had risen.
"Pray sit down. May I know what has brought you here?"