“What! Neither you nor Sir Patrick has told Blanche of the situation you stand in at this moment?”
“Not yet. Sir Patrick leaves it to me. I haven’t been able to bring myself to do it. Don’t say a word, I entreat you. I don’t know how Blanche may interpret it. Her friend is expected in London to-morrow. I want to wait till Sir Patrick can bring them together. Her friend will break it to her better than I can. It’s my notion. Sir Patrick thinks it a good one. Stop! you’re not going away already?”
“She will be here to look for me if I stay any longer.”
“One word! I want to know—”
“You shall know later in the day.”
Her ladyship appeared again round the angle of the wall. The next words that passed were words spoken in a whisper.
“Are you satisfied now, Blanche?”
“Have you mercy enough left, Lady Lundie, to take me away from this house?”
“My dear child! Why else did I look at the time-table in the hall?”