She waited impatiently for some minutes, but finding he did not speak again, she held out her hand.
“Since you have nothing more to tell me,” she observed lightly, “I think I will say good morning. I am going to order the carriage and drive to Omberley.”
“When may I come again?”
“When you have anything really parochial to say to me. Please go now.”
Their eyes met, and hers sank beneath his own.
As he crossed towards the door it opened, and Baptisto appeared upon the threshold.
“Did you ring, senora?”
At the sight of the Spaniard’s dull impressive face Mrs. Haldane started violently, and went a little pale. She had heard nothing of his return, and he came like an apparition.
“Baptisto! What are you doing here? I thought——”
She paused in wonder, while the Spaniard inclined his head and bowed profoundly.