Then he suffered himself very reluctantly to be detained by the hall fire.
'Michael,' she began, in rather a peremptory tone, 'I cannot understand either you or Cyril to-night. You are both very strange, I think. Cyril leaves me without a word, and goes out looking like a ghost, and you tell me that something is troubling him, and yet neither of you vouchsafes me one word of explanation.'
'I cannot help it, Audrey; it is not my affair. Blake was in a hurry; you must have seen that for yourself.'
'He was very extraordinary in his behaviour, and so were you. Of course, if you don't choose to answer me, Michael, I will just send a note across to Cyril, and tell him I must see him at once.'
'I should hardly do that, if I were you.'
'Not write to him!' in an offended voice. 'Really, Michael, you are too mysterious; why, this borders on absurdity! Cyril is in trouble—in one breath you tell me that—and then you would prevent my writing to ask him to come to me! I shall certainly write to him.'
'Will you go to your father instead? He has just gone into the study.'
Then Audrey looked at him with intense astonishment.
'What has my father got to do with it?'
'Never mind all that,' returned Michael slowly. 'Go to Dr. Ross, and ask him why Blake is in trouble. He will tell you; you may take my word for it.'