"Don't be alarmed," he besought her, though unable quite to conceal his own uneasiness.
"Yes, yes. Oh, if I only knew what it was! I feel so anxious."
He took her things from the servant and put the cloak round Gertrude's shoulders.
"I hope it has nothing to do with Arthur and Jenny. They were very strange to each other, yesterday."
Gertrude looked at him and shook her head. "No, no, they were always like that."
"Then I am surprised that he did not run away long ago," he said, drily.
"Or she," retorted Gertrude tying her bonnet.
"I could not stand such everlasting complaints, Gertrude," said he, buttoning her left glove.
"Nor I, Frank. Good-bye. You must make my excuses at dinner. God grant it is nothing very bad."
She looked round the room once more, then went quickly up to her work-table and thrust the note-book into her pocket.