e
signified selfish indifference.

"Nor yesterday. Mrs. Spence was here this morning, but Cecily would not
see her. I made excuses, and of course said nothing of what was going
on. I asked the child if she would like to see Mrs. Baske, but she
refused."

Mallard sat as if he had nothing to say, looking vaguely about the room.

"Have you heard from Mr. Elgar?" Mrs. Lessingham inquired.

"No. I know nothing about him. I haven't been to Casa Rolandi, lest I
should meet him. It was better to see you first."

"You were not prepared for this news?"

"His failure to return made me speculate, of course. I suppose they
have met several times at Mrs. Baske's?"

"That at once occurred to me, but Cecily assures me that is not so.
There is a mystery. I have no idea how they saw each other privately at
Pompeii on Monday. But, between ourselves, Mr. Mallard, I can't help
suspecting that he had learnt from his sister the particulars of the
excursion."

"You think it not impossible that Mrs. Baske connived at their meeting
in that way?"

"One doesn't like to use words of that kind, but--"

"I suppose one must use the word that expresses one's meaning," said
Mallard, bluntly. "But I didn't think Mrs. Baske was likely to aid her
brother for such a purpose. Have you any reason to think the contrary?"

"None that would carry any weight."

Mallard paused; then, with a restless movement on his chair exclaimed:

"But what has this to do with the matter? What has happened has
happened, and there's an end of it. The question is, what ought to be
done now? I don't see that we can treat Miss Doran like a child."

Mrs. Lessingham looked at him. She was resting one arm on a table by
which she sat, and supporting her forehead with her hand.

"You propose that things should take their natural course?"

"They will, whether I propose it or not."

"And if our next information is that they desire to be married as soon
as conveniently may be?"

"That is another matter. They will have no consent of mine to anything
of the kind."

"You relieve me."

Mallard looked at her frowningly.

"Miss Doran," he continued, "will not marry Elgar with my consent until
she be one-and-twenty. Then, of course, she may do as she likes."

"You will see Mr. Elgar, and make this clear to him?"

"Very clear indeed," was the grim reply. "As for any thing else, why,
what can we do? If they insist upon it, I suppose they must see each
other--of course,