If that room became
empty, the house would be empty too. There would be no swift footsteps
up and down the stairs, no bursts of singing, no laughter: she must
not go; she could not be spared. For a moment Rose forgot Francis
Sales's share in the adventure: she could only think of her own
impending loneliness.
She went quickly down the stairs and sat in the drawing-room, leaving
the door open, and after an hour or so she heard stealthy sounds from
the room above; drawers were opened carefully and Henrietta, in
slipperless feet, padded across the floor. Rose looked at her watch
and rang the bell.
'Please take a tray to Miss Henrietta's room,' she told Susan, 'with
tea, and sandwiches and, yes, an egg. She had no luncheon. A good,
substantial tea, please, Susan.' If the child were anticipating a
journey, she must be fed.
A little later she heard Susan knock at Henrietta's door. It was not
opened, but the tray was deposited outside with a slight rattle of
china, and Susan's voice, mildly reproachful, exhorted Miss Henrietta
to eat and drink.
At half-past four the tray was still lying there untouched. This meant
that Henrietta was in no hurry, or that she was too indignant to eat:
but it might also mean that she had no time. Only half-past four and
Charles Batty was not due till five! He might be there already; in his
place, she would have been there, but men were painfully exact, and
five was the hour she had named.
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