Edith looked into her face in a bewildered way. "No, mother, what was it?" she answered.
Then all outward sign of Mrs. Beale's agitation subsided. Some shocks stun, and some strengthen and steady us. The piteous appeal in Edith's eyes, the puzzle and the pain of her face as she made an effort to recall her words and understand them, had the latter effect upon her mother.
"I am afraid you are very weak, dear child," the poor lady bravely responded. "Weakness makes people unhealthy-minded. You must see the doctor, and have a tonic."
"The doctor again!" Edith groaned. "It has been nothing but the doctor and 'tonics' ever since I have been married."
"What does he say is the matter exactly?" Mrs. Beale asked.
"All his endeavour seems to be not to say what is the matter exactly,"
Edith replied.
Mrs. Beale reflected, caressing her daughter the while, and under the soothing influence of her loving touch, Edith's countenance began to relax.
"When is Mosley coming?" her mother said at last.
Edith's face contracted again, and she rose to her feet. "I don't know, mother," she answered coldly.
The chime rang out at this moment, and she frowned as she listened to it.