"By Jove, I must have been nodding! A thousand pardons."
"How long have you been here?" said Mrs. Kildair.
"About ten minutes," he said, rubbing his eyes and laughing. "Confound that chair—it's infernally comfortable, after being up all night. You made me jump."
Mrs. Bloodgood had regained her calm. She embraced Mrs. Kildair and held out her hand to Beecher.
"Won't you let me see you to your carriage?" he said eagerly, with a smile of such good will that she perceived that whatever he had overheard, she had no need to fear.
"It's not necessary—but thank you," she said, giving him a grateful smile.
He went to the door, opening it with a little exaggerated courtesy, and returned thoughtfully to Mrs. Kildair, who was watching him fixedly.
"You overheard?" she said directly.
"A little."
"And what did you understand from it?"