'Yes, I know, poor darling; but I have often seen her, often been near her; but I heard her laugh, and thought she was happy and had forgotten me. How long is it since Leah confessed, Miss—Miss—' And here he laughed a little nervously. 'I do not know who you are, and yet you must be a friend.'
'I am Ursula Garston, a very close friend of your sister Gladys, and I have been nursing her in this last illness.'
'What! has she been ill?' he asked anxiously. And when I had given him full particulars he questioned me again about Leah's confession, and I had to repeat all I could remember of her words.
'Then I was not cleared when you spoke to me at Hyde Park Gate?' he returned, with a relieved air. 'So it did not matter my giving you the slip. You frightened me horribly, Miss Garston, I can tell you that. I saw those advertisements, too, to Jack Poynter, and I was very near leaving the country; but I am glad I held on, as Phil advised,' drawing a long breath as he spoke.
CHAPTER XLVII
'AT LAST, URSULA, AT LAST!'
We were interrupted at this moment by the landlady's voice calling to Eric from the bottom of the stairs.
'Jack,—I say, Jack, what has become of the steak I promised to cook for you? I'll be bound Jenny has eaten it.'
Eric gave a short laugh and went out into the passage, and I heard him say, in rather a low voice,—