“Are you not just a little impertinent?” Lady Mildred said coldly.
“No. Only curious, which is the prerogative of youth. I quite like this husband of yours, although when I first saw him at the wedding, I thought him rather hateful, and wondered how you could marry him.”
“You forget that John is a rich man,” Lady Mildred said bitterly.
“No. I don’t forget, for I am quite sure that you would never have married for money alone. I have been watching you two rather closely of late and sometimes I think you care for him much more than you will allow any one to see.”
As she spoke she looked steadily at her sister, and was pleased to see that her words were not without effect, for Lady Mildred was very angry.
“You talk like a sentimental schoolgirl. You imagine love to be the most important thing in the world.”
“So it is, my dear, and you’ll find it out some day. Let me give you a little sisterly advice. John is by no means an ordinary man, and I warn you that he may be driven too far. Perhaps you won’t know his real worth until you lose him. As I said before, I have been keeping my eyes open and it is very evident that your husband is in trouble of some kind. I wonder you don’t speak to him frankly and offer to share it. You would be received with open arms,” Lady Ethel said with unwonted seriousness.
“If John has worries, I am ready to help him to the best of my ability.”
“Why don’t you tell him so?”
“It is not my place to ask for his confidence. You really are going too far, Ethel. I think I will rest till dinner time,” she said wearily.