Finally he took a well-worn Bible from a
locked drawer, and read some verses from the Gospel of St. John, quieting
himself. He never went to sleep without reading either a psalm or some
portion of the New Testament. The influence of his Eton tutor had made
him a Christian of a simple and convinced type; and his mother's
agnosticism had never affected him. But he and she never talked of
religion.
Nothing arrived from Threlfall the following day during the morning.
After luncheon, Victoria announced her intention of going to call on the
Penfolds.
"You can follow me there in the motor," she said to her son; "and if any
news comes, bring it on."
They were in the drawing-room. Netta, white and silent, was stretched on
the sofa, where Victoria had just spread a shawl over her. Felicia
appeared to be turning over an illustrated paper, but was in reality
watching the mother and son out of the corners of her eyes. Everything
that was said containing a mention of the Penfolds struck in her an
attentive ear. The casual conversation of the house had shown her already
that there were three ladies--two of them young--who were living not far
from Duddon, and were objects of interest to both Lady Tatham and her
son. Flowers were sent them, and new books. They were not relations; and
not quite ordinary acquaintances. All this had excited a furious
curiosity in Felicia. She wished--was determined indeed--to see these
ladies for herself.
"You will hardly want to go out," said Victoria gently, standing by
Netta's sofa, and looking down with kind eyes on the weary woman lying
there.
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