"In ten minutes!" said Flaxman, hastily departing, only, however, to be followed into his study by Rose, who breathed into his ear—
"And if you see Mary and Mr. Meynell colloguing—play up!"
Flaxman turned round with a start.
"I say!—is there really anything in that?"
Rose, sitting on the arm of his chair, did her best to bring him up to date. Yes—from her observation of the two—she was certain there was a good deal in it.
"And Catharine?"
Rose's eyebrows expressed the uncertainty of the situation.
"But such an odd thing happened last week! You remember the day of the accident—and the Church Council that was put off?"
"Perfectly."
"Catharine made up her mind suddenly to go to that Church Council—after not having been able to speak of Mr. Meynell or the Movement for weeks. Why—neither Mary nor I know. But she walked over from the cottage—the first time she has done it. She arrived in the village just as the dreadful thing had happened in the pit. Then of course she and the Rector took command. Nobody who knew Catharine would have expected anything else. And now she and Mary and the Rector are busy looking after the poor survivors. 'It's propinquity does it,' my dear!"