"Good afternoon, Mr. Ormsby. My intrusion upon you seems to have taken you a little by surprise, which, perhaps, is hardly to be wondered at. Still, although your natural timidity has hindered you from calling upon us at Rosemount, I have no wish to appear unneighborly, and I know of no reason why I should not call upon you. I trust that you left them all well at Denham Lodge."
Guy's smile was not a pleasant one to see. Flinging away what was left of his cigar, he said: "Will you not be seated, Mrs. Jenwyn? I may at once confess that your visit is a surprise, but not, let me add, an unwelcome one. May I be permitted to hope that Miss Drelincourt is quite well?"
He felt that he must talk, but he hardly knew what to say. One of his first thoughts at sight of her had been, "Can Anna have been such a fool as to tell this woman that she has agreed to a secret marriage?" It was a disquieting question.
"As you have had the pleasure of seeing Miss Drelincourt within the last two or three hours, you are in a better position to judge of the state of her health than I am, who have not seen her since breakfast time."
This was not a very promising beginning, as Guy could not but admit. "Hang it all!" he said to himself. "Where's the good of beating about the bush? Some specific purpose has brought her here. What is it? The sooner I find out the better."
After a brief pause, he said aloud: "I perceive, Mrs. Jenwyn, that you are not unaware that Miss Drelincourt and I have seen each other?"
Mrs. Jenwyn's reply was a grave inclination of the head.
"We have met more than once--several times, in point of fact--at Carthew Bay. I have no wish to deny that such is the case."
"It would be useless of you to attempt to do so."
"Am I right in assuming that your call upon me today is in reference to those meetings?"