He had been called out suddenly, and had left no
message because he expected to be back before she arrived, but had been
detained; or perhaps he had left a message with one of the servants
whom she had not seen--there were so many about the place; or it was
just possible that he had never received her letter at all--a certain
number are lost in the post every day; and altogether it was more
difficult to think badly of him than to believe that there had been
some mistake. But still there was a doubt in her mind, and she bore the
torment of it rather than ask for an explanation which might only
confirm her worst fears.
CHAPTER XXIII.
About a month after she came to us, Ideala caught a bad cold. The
doctor said her chest was very delicate. There was no disease, but she
required great care, and must not go out of doors. Soon afterwards he
ordered her to remain in two rooms, and my sister had a favourite
sitting-room turned into a bedroom for her. It opened into the blue
drawing-room, and we took to sitting there in the evening, so that
Ideala might join us without change of temperature.
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