A jingle of bells rose
upwards suddenly and grew loud. Mrs. Adair raised her head quickly.
"That's a cab," she said.
"Yes."
Ethne leaned forward and looked down. "But it's not stopping here;" and
the jingle grew fainter and died away.
Mrs. Adair looked at the clock.
"Colonel Durrance is late," she said, and she turned curiously towards
Ethne. It seemed to her that Ethne had spoken her "yes" with much more
of suspense than eagerness; her attitude as she leaned forward at the
window had been almost one of apprehension; and though Mrs. Adair was
not quite sure, she fancied that she detected relief when the cab passed
by the house and did not stop. "I wonder why you didn't go to the
station and meet Colonel Durrance?" she asked slowly.
The answer came promptly enough.
"He might have thought that I had come because I looked upon him as
rather helpless, and I don't wish him to think that. He has his servant
with him." Ethne looked again out of the window, and once or twice she
made a movement as if she was about to speak and then thought silence
the better part. Finally, however, she made up her mind.
"You remember the telegram I showed to you?"
"From Lieutenant Calder, saying that Colonel Durrance had gone blind?"
"Yes.
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