— — —The lawyer lived in a handsome but gloomy house at Highgate that was well run by elderly servants. Mrs. Sylk found the atmosphere almost as depressing as Leppard Hall, and she was disappointed when the formal luncheon was over that the girl was not eager to go to town and begin to make her purchases. They had, indeed, an appointment with the dressmaker for early that afternoon.
But Laura said surprisingly that Mrs. Sylk must go alone and choose the patterns and the materials.
“It is a matter of indifference to me,” she added, looking across at her host. “I want to speak to Mr. Spryce, now I have the occasion.”
And the lawyer, a stout affable man, but dull, and having the air of being out of touch with the world, had returned, too, to his mansion for luncheon on purpose to do honour
