"Well, as you offered the hospitality of your roof to Mrs. Davenport, and she has accepted it, you can't say to her, or even show to her, that you wish her to go----"
"Quite impossible," interrupted Alfred.
"But might I not say--that supposing she will see me again--a thing I doubt very much--it would be most desirable for her to move into town, so that she might be near me and I near her?"
"That would not be a bad plan," said Mr. Paulton, looking at his son and O'Brien for confirmation. "What do you think, boys?"
"I don't see what better can be done," said O'Brien, answering for the two.
He answered quickly, for he was half afraid that Alfred had not even yet made up his mind as to the desirability of her leaving the house.
"The great difficulty is that time is short, and I don't think I could intrude upon her again to-day. We had quite a scene upstairs. Judging from the state of agitation in which she left me, I should imagine she will not see any one on business during the remainder of the day."
At that moment the door of the library opened and Mrs. Davenport stepped into the room. She was in her walking dress.
All the men rose and stood looking at her silently. Mr. Paulton was the first to recover his presence of mind, and offered her a chair.
She came over quietly to where he stood, bowing slightly as she moved.