"
Seton's eyes met Merefleet's for a second. There was a touch of
uneasiness about him, as if he feared Merefleet might misconstrue
something. And Merefleet considerately struck a topic which he
believed to be wholly impersonal.
"By the way," he said, "I had an American paper sent me to-day. It may
interest you to hear that Ralph Warrender has resigned his seat in
Congress and married again."
"What?" said Seton.
"My!" cried Mab, with a shrill laugh. "That is news, Mr. Merefleet!"
Merefleet glanced at her sharply, his attention arrested by something he
did not understand. Seton pushed a glass of sherry towards her, but he
was looking at Merefleet.
"News indeed!" he said deliberately. "Is it actually an accomplished
fact?"
"According to the _New York Herald_," said Merefleet.
Mab's face was growing whiter and whiter. Seton still leant over the
table, striving with all his resolution to force Merefleet's attention
away from her. But Merefleet would not allow it. He saw what Seton did
not stop to see; and it was he, not Seton, who lifted her to her feet a
moment later and half-led, half-carried her out of the stifling room.
With a practical commonsense eminently characteristic of him, Seton
remained to pour out a glass of brandy; and thus armed he followed them
into the vestibule. Mab was lying back in an arm-chair when he arrived.
Her eyes were closed, and she was breathing quickly.
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