“Why on earth shouldn’t I?”
“I was afraid your servant would say you weren’t at home.”
He looked at her steadily, as though meaning to say far more than was expressed in the words.
“I shall always be very glad to see you,” she answered, in a low voice.
“Thank you.”
A look of deep gratitude softened away the pain on his face.
At that moment Mrs. Barlow-Bassett was announced. She shook hands with Basil somewhat coldly, thinking that a man who had married a barmaid could be no proper companion for her virtuous son, and she determined not to renew the old acquaintance. He went out.
“D’you know whom Mr. Kent married, and why?” asked Mrs. Murray.
The question had been often on her lips, but pride till this moment had ever prevented her from making an effort to clear up a difficulty which had long puzzled her.
“My dear Hilda, don’t you know? It’s a most shocking story. I must say I was surprised to find him here, but of course, if you didn’t know, that explains it. He got into trouble with some dreadfully low creature.”