The ladies, left behind in the drawing-room,
heard the apology accepted by kind-hearted Sir Joseph. The two went out
together.
"Have you noticed Richard since his return?" asked Miss Lavinia. "I
fancy he must have heard bad news in London. He looks as if he had
something on his mind."
"I haven't remarked it, aunt."
For the time, no more was said. Miss Lavinia went monotonously on with
her knitting. Natalie pursued her own anxious thoughts over the unread
pages of the book in her lap. Suddenly the deep silence out of doors and
in was broken by a shrill whistle, sounding from the direction of the
church-yard. Natalie started with a faint cry of alarm. Miss Lavinia
looked up from her knitting.
"My dear child, your nerves must be sadly out of order. What is there to
be frightened at?"
"I am not very well, aunt. It is so still here at night, the slightest
noises startle me."
There was another interval of silence. It was past nine o'clock when
they heard the back door opened and closed again. Turlington came
hurriedly into the drawing-room, as if he had some reason for wishing to
rejoin the ladies as soon as possible.
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