She seemed to be saying this to herself more than to him, as though she would remind herself of her duty. Michael said no more, but as he followed her downstairs he told himself that no other girl could have borne herself so bravely and so sweetly under the circumstances.
He wondered at her still more as he sat opposite to her at table, and saw the quiet gravity with which she took her part in the conversation. She spoke a word or two about her sister, and mentioned of her own accord that she had promised to bring Leonard to see her the next day.
'I do not mean to call him baby,' she said; 'he is far too important a personage. Did you hear nurse speak of him as Master Baby the other day? I think Gage must have given her a hint about it.'
And then she listened with an air of interest as her mother related a little anecdote that recurred to her memory of Geraldine's babyhood.
But he saw her flush painfully when Mrs. Ross commented on her want of appetite.
'You have eaten nothing to-day, Crauford tells me,' she continued anxiously.
Audrey shook her head.
'One cannot always be hungry, mother dear,' she said gently; but it was evident that her mother's kindly notice did not please her.
And she seemed still more distressed when her father once rose from his place to give her some wine.
'Why do you do that?' she asked, with a touch of impatience. 'It is not for you to wait on me, father. Michael would have filled my glass quite easily.'