She had stood all through the dialogue; now at length she moved to a seat, and sank upon it with trembling limbs.

Richard wished to go, but had a difficulty in leaving abruptly.

Darkness had fallen whilst they talked; they only saw each other by the light of the fire.
'Am I to come and see you or not, mother, when you get back to the old quarters ?' She did not reply.
'You won't tell me ?' 'You must come or stay away, as it suits you,' she said, in a tone of indifference.
'Very well, then I shall come, if it's only to tell you about 'Arry and Alice.

And now will you let Alice come up and have some tea with you ?' There was no answer.
'Then I'll tell her she may,' he said kindly, and went from the room.
He found Alice in the drawing-room, and persuaded her to go up.
'Just take it as if there 'd been nothing wrong,' he said to his sister.
'She's had a wretched time of it, I can see that.

Take some tea-cakes up with you, and talk about going back to the Square as if she'd proposed it herself.