‘Then where are you going alone, on such a cold wet day?’
Madeline flushed uneasily, and impatiently put the child from her.
‘You should not ask so many questions,’ she said; ‘it is rude!’ Then, noting the little crestfallen face, she hurriedly caught him up again and kissed him, while her own eyes filled with tears.
‘Hush, do not mind, I was wrong; but I did not mean to pain you, darling—no, no—not you!’
During the enacting of this scene Miss Forster had still remained in the room. Up to this moment she had said nothing; but her eyes had followed all her sister-in-law’s movements, and watched her face with peculiar interest. When Madeline had put down the boy, and was about to leave the room, she spoke.
‘The carriage has not come round,’ she said.
Madeline started, and turned. She had ignored the presence of her sister-in-law; and that lady noticed that the sudden recollection of it brought another uncomfortable flush to the pale cheek, and caused another anxious look about the room.
‘I—I have not ordered the carriage,’ she said.
‘Indeed?’
No question had been asked, therefore Madeline was not bound to reply; but feeling that she must say something, she stammered rather awkwardly—