“ Uncle Trevor,” Cassandra exclaimed impulsively, “don’t be angry, please. I couldn’t help it; I do beg you to forgive me.”
Her uncle still refused to acknowledge her identity, and still talked over her head as if she did not exist.
“ I suppose you have communicated with the Otways,” he said to Rodney grimly.
“ Uncle Trevor, we wanted to tell you,” Cassandra replied for him. “We waited—” she looked appealingly at Rodney, who shook his head ever so slightly.
“ Yes? What were you waiting for?” her uncle asked sharply, looking at her at last.
The words died on her lips. It was apparent that she was straining her ears as if to catch some sound outside the room that would come to her help. He received no answer. He listened, too.
“ This is a most unpleasant business for all parties,”
