In the meantime Fairfax had followed Alice to the west room, her mother’s favourite place, but Lady Markham was not there.
“I will tell mamma. I am sure she will be glad to see you,” Alice said.
“Just one moment—only wait one moment,” Fairfax said, detaining her with his hand raised in appeal.
But when she stopped at his entreaty he did not say anything. What answer could she make him? She was standing waiting with a little wonder and much embarrassment. And he said nothing; at last—
“Paul is very well,” he said.
“I am very glad. We heard from him yesterday.”
Then there was another pause.
“Miss Markham,” said Fairfax, “I told your mother myself of that, you know, and a great deal more. She was not so—angry as I feared.”
“Angry!” Alice laughed a little, but very nervously. “How could she be angry? It was not anything that could——”
What had she been going to say? Something cruel, something that she did not mean.