"He is very much in love with me," went on Stella quietly. "Anyway, so
much so that he doesn't want to lose sight of me, while he is making up
his mind. Hence his offer."
"But he could see you here."
Stella shook her head. "He would loathe this house after what occurred
last night, and he thinks I am in an unholy set. He really is an awful
dear, you know, so high-minded and upright. His great aim is to get me
away from the environment."
Mrs L'Estrange settled herself comfortably amongst her sofa cushions.
She was an excitable and fussy person about trifles, but she took the
great things of life with a calm and equal mind.
"Well, my dear, go as soon as it suits yourself. You have been a good
pal to me, and I shall be sorry to lose you. But if you have got a
decent chance you would be a fool not to take it."
Miss Keane was strongly of the same opinion. Anyway she was glad the
interview was over, that Mrs L'Estrange had taken everything in such
good part. She might have turned nasty if the mood had seized her.
Later on, Miss Keane wrote a long letter to Tommy Esmond to an address
which he had communicated to her in his note of the morning.
The same evening, she held a long conversation with her cousin and
trustee, Mr Dutton, who came to Elsinore Gardens in obedience to an
urgent summons on the telephone.