"Nothing very bad, mamma," she said.
"But you must have," insisted Mrs. Lorton. "Of course it's your fault."
"Is it absolutely necessary that there should be any fault?" said Nell
wearily. "But let us say that it is my fault. Perhaps it is!" She
laughed unconsciously, and with a touch of bitterness. "What does it
matter whose fault it is? The reason isn't of any consequence at all;
the fact is the only important thing, and it is a fact that our
engagement is broken. It was broken last night, and I tell you at once,
mamma; and I want to beg you not to ask me any questions. Drake--Mr.
Vernon--will no doubt go away to-day, and we shan't see him any more."
She went to the window to arrange the blind, and Mrs. Lorton didn't see
the twitching of the white lips which spoke so calmly. "And I want to
forget him; I want you, too, to try and forget him, and not to remind me
of him by a single word. It was very foolish, my thinking that he cared
for me----Oh, I can't say another word----"
She stopped suddenly, her hands writhing together.
Mrs. Lorton stared at the counterpane with a half-sly, half-speculative
expression in her faded eyes.
"After all," she said meditatively, "it was not such a particularly good
match. One knows nothing about him or his people, and--and I suppose
you've not felt quite satisfied. Yes, perhaps you might do better. You
may have some chances now. You've read the letter, and made up your
mind, of course?"
"The letter?" echoed Nell stupidly.
Mrs. Lorton stared at her angrily, and with a flush of resentment on her
peevish face.
"The letter I gave you last night, of course," she said. "Do you mean to
tell me that you haven't read it? The most important letter I have ever
received! At least, it is of the greatest importance to you. It is from
my cousin, Lord Wolfer. What have you done with it, Eleanor?"
Nell put her hand to her head.
"I must have left it in my room," she said. "I will go and fetch it."
Mrs. Lorton snorted.
"Such gross carelessness and indifference is really shameful!" she flung
after Nell.
Nell found the letter beside the bed, and returned with it to Mrs.
Lorton's room.
"Why, it's all crumpled up, as if you had been playing shuttlecock with
it!" exclaimed Mrs. Lorton indignantly. "It is absolutely disrespectful
of you, not to say ungrateful. Read it, if you please, and slowly; I
could not bear to have my cousin's letter gabbled over. I, at least,
know what is due to a Wolfer."