‘I thought I saw Lady Constantine walk this way,’ he rejoined to Tabitha’s negative. ‘I am very anxious indeed to meet with her.’
She went forward. ‘I am here,’ she said. ‘Don’t stop playing, Miss Lark. What is it, Mr. Torkingham?’
Tabitha thereupon resumed her playing, and Mr. Torkingham joined Lady Constantine.
‘I have some very serious intelligence to break to your ladyship,’ he said. ‘But—I will not interrupt you here.’ (He had seen her rise from her knees to come to him.) ‘I will call at the House the first moment you can receive me after reaching home.’
‘No, tell me here,’ she said, seating herself.
He came close, and placed his hand on the poppy-head of the seat.
‘I have received a communication,’ he resumed haltingly, ‘in which I am requested to prepare you for the contents of a letter that you will receive to-morrow morning.’
‘I am quite ready.’
‘The subject is briefly this, Lady Constantine: that you have been a widow for more than eighteen months.’
‘Dead!’