The importance is such indeed that I doubt if I am justified in delaying longer if you have no idea of when I may expect to see her." Had Esther been noticing she must have remarked the unusual agitation of his manner, but Esther was not noticing.
"Is it anything you could discuss with me ?" she asked innocently.
"Mother cares less and less for business.

Unless it is something quite private she will probably turn it over to me in any case." "But this is not--er--a matter of business.

Not exactly.

Not a business matter at all, in fact.

It is a matter which--" "Oh, there you are!" Miss Annabel's voice was breathless but gratified and free from the faintest suspicion of having arrived, as usual, at exactly the wrong moment.