She had no time, however, to attack him, for Mrs. Allison approached.
* * * * *
"What is the matter with her?—with Madeleine?—with all of them?" thought Betty, suddenly.
For Mrs. Allison, pale and discomposed, did not return, did not apparently notice Lady Leven's greeting. She walked hastily past them, and would have gone at once into the house but that, turning her head, she perceived Lord Fontenoy hurrying towards her from the lime-walk. With an obvious effort she controlled herself, and went to meet him, leaning heavily on her silver-topped stick.
The others paused, no one having, as it seemed, anything to say. Letty poked the gravel with her parasol; Sir Philip made a telescope of his hands, and fixed it upon Maxwell, who was coming slowly across the lawn; while Lady Madeleine turned a handsome, bewildered face on Betty.
Betty took her aside to look at a flower on the house.
"What's the matter?" said Lady Leven, under her breath.
"I don't know," said the other. "Something dreadful happened on the way home. There was a girl—"
But she broke off suddenly. Ancoats had just opened and shut the garden-door, and was coming to join his guests.
"Poor dear!" thought Betty to herself, with a leap of pity. It was so evident the girl's whole nature thrilled to the approaching step. She turned her head towards Ancoats, as though against her will, her tall form drawn erect, in unconscious tension.