Part 35 (1/2)

ELLEAN.

[_In an undertone to_ MRS. CORTELYON.] Never mind. Not now, dear--not to-night.

AUBREY.

Eh?

MRS. CORTELYON.

[_To_ ELLEAN _aloud._] Child, run away and take your things off. She doesn't look as if she'd journeyed from Paris to-day.

AUBREY.

I've never seen her with such a colour.

[_Taking_ ELLEAN'S _hands._

ELLEAN.

[_To_ AUBREY, _in a faint voice._] Papa, Mrs. Cortelyon has been so very, very kind to me, but I--I have come home.

[_She goes out._

AUBREY.

Come home! [_To_ MRS. CORTELYON.] Ellean returns to us, then?

MRS. CORTELYON.

That's the very point I put to you in my letters, and you oblige me to travel from Paris to Willowmere on a warm day to settle it. I think perhaps it's right that Ellean should be with you just now, although I---- My dear friend, circ.u.mstances are a little altered.

AUBREY.

Alice, you're in some trouble.

MRS. CORTELYON.

Well--yes, I _am_ in trouble. You remember pretty little Mrs.

Brereton who was once Caroline Ardale?

AUBREY.

Quite well.

MRS. CORTELYON.

She's a widow now, poor thing. She has the _entresol_ of the house where we've been lodging in the Avenue de Friedland. Caroline's a dear chum of mine; she formed a great liking for Ellean.

AUBREY.