Philip mounted and rode up, en règle, to the door, where, in answer to his inquiries, he was told that Miss St Quentin was at home and in the library.
There, sure enough, he found his elder cousin. She started up as he came in.
“Oh, Philip, that’s right,” she exclaimed. “We were just hoping you would come before luncheon. It is so nice to have you at home again,” she added affectionately.
“It is nice to be home again,” he replied, as he went up to the fire and stood warming his hands at the blaze. Then there fell a little silence.
“Madelene,” said Sir Philip at last, “you haven’t yet introduced me to you sister Ella.”
“No,” Miss St Quentin replied, “there has not yet been any opportunity for my doing so,” she was beginning, when she suddenly and unaccountably stopped. “If you will ring, Philip,” she said, “I will send to tell both Ermine and Ella to come.”
But Philip did not move towards the bell.
“I don’t want them to come just yet,” he said. “I want to talk to you a little first. And besides, Ella is out.”
“Ella out,” repeated Madelene, looking up and changing colour slightly. Her manner seemed rather constrained and nervous. “How do you know?” her glance at him said.
Philip smiled.