He expected to find Lady Sellingworth on the doorstep, but no one was there, and he looked down the street, first to the right, then to the left. In the distance on the left he saw the tall figure of a woman walking slowly near a lamp-post, and he hurried down the street.
As his footsteps rang on the pavement the woman turned round, and showed the white face and luminous eyes of Lady Sellingworth.
“You have given me quite a turn, as the servants say!” he exclaimed, coming up to her. “What is the matter? Are you ill?”
He looked anxiously at her.
“What made you go away so suddenly? You didn’t mind my—”
“No, no!” she interrupted. “But I do feel unwell. I feel very unwell.”
“I’m most awfully sorry! Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you let me leave you?”
“Beryl wanted you.”
“It was only—she only wanted to suggest our all having coffee together.”
Her mouth went awry.