Again she was silent. Then, seeing that he awaited her reply, she answered:
“If I take the vows I shall do so because I have certain reasons for so doing.”
“Strong reasons?” he asked, still looking into her face.
She raised her fine eyes to his again, and nodded in the affirmative.
Then she turned and walked towards the table to put down the empty glass.
Lord Bracondale for the first time realised that the nurse by whom during the past few days he, confirmed bachelor that he was, had become so strangely attracted, possessed a chapter of her life which she hoped was closed for ever.
The curious situation attracted him. What, he wondered, could be the nature of the secret of such a good, pure-minded, honest woman?
His eyes followed her as she moved about the room in silence. He was wondering.
The autumn days passed slowly. His was a long illness.
Out in the great park the golden leaves, in falling, were swept along the wide avenue by the strong winds from the sea, and the face of the country had now become brown and desolate.