She was so accustomed to Molly's silences that it was some time before she realised that this one was ominous. She might have seen that that young lady was looking over her head, or out of the window, or anywhere but at her. Suddenly it struck her that not a sound interrupted her own voice, and she began to perceive the absurd airs that Molly was giving herself. Prompted by the devil she, therefore, instantly proceeded to say:
"When we were at Cairo Sir Edmund Grosse came for a few days with Lady Rose Bright."
"From the yacht?" said Molly, speaking for the first time.
"Yes; they said in Cairo that the engagement would be announced as soon as they got back to England. And really my dear, everyone agreed that without grudging you her money, one can't help being glad that that dear woman should be rich again!"
It was about as sharp a two-edged thrust as could have been delivered, and Molly's distrait air and undue magnificence melted under it.
"No one could be more glad than I am," she said, with a quiet reserve of manner; and after that she was quite friendly, and took Adela all over the house, and pressed her to stay to tea, and that little lady felt instinctively that Molly was afraid of her, and smacked her rosy lips with the foretaste of the amusements she intended to enjoy in this magnificent house.
While they were having tea, Molly, leaning back, said quietly:
"I see from what you said before we went over the house that you have not heard that Sir Edmund Grosse is ruined?"
Mrs. Delaport Green gave a little shriek of excitement.
"He trusted all his affairs to a scoundrel, and this is the result." Molly's tone was still negative.