"You are wasting time, then," said Robert, shaking his head. "And that eldest girl of yours may come in at any moment."
Despite her utmost efforts Miss Hartley failed to repress a smile; greatly encouraged, Mr. Vyner placed a chair for her and took one by her side.
"Tell me everything, and I shall know where we are," he said, in a low voice.
"I would rather—" began Miss Hartley.
"Yes, I know," interrupted Mr. Vyner, with great gravity; "but we were not put into this world to please ourselves. Try again."
Miss Hartley endeavoured to turn the conversation, but in vain. In less than ten minutes, with a little skilful prompting, she had told him all.
"I didn't think that it was quite so bad as that," said Robert, going very red. "I am very sorry—very. I can't think what my father was about, and I suppose, in the first place, that it was my fault."
"Yours?" exclaimed Joan.
"For not displaying more patience," said Robert, slowly. "But I was afraid of—-of being forestalled."
Miss Hartley succeeded in divesting her face of every atom of expression. Robert Vyner gazed at her admiringly.