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[Smoothing the paper out.] Do you know the reason?

[Hesitatingly.] No.

[After a pause.] Well, but if this article is for him, as you say, they have not quarrelled. [She reflects a moment.] And written last night, too.

Yes. I bought the paper at once to see. But why, then, is he going away so suddenly? I feel that there is something wrong. I feel that something has happened between them.

Would you be sorry?

I would be very sorry. You see, Mrs Rowan, Robert is my first cousin and it would grieve me very deeply if he were to treat Mr Rowan badly, now that he has come back, or if they had a serious quarrel especially because

[Toying with the paper.] Because?

Because it was my cousin who urged Mr Rowan always to come back. I have that on my conscience.

It should be on Mr Hand's conscience, should it not?

[Uncertainly.] On mine, too. Because—I spoke to