I knocked up the landlord of the 'White Hart,' and, turning into bed,
slept my first peaceful sleep since my trouble.
To escape awkward questions, I did not in the morning take back the
keys to Shales's house myself, but sent them, and walking to
Dullingham took the train to London.
X
BEHIND THE VEIL
I
When I met my mother at the solicitor's office next day, she was
astonished at my cheerfulness and at the general change in me. As we
left the office together, she said,
'Everything is now arranged: your aunt and I have decided to accept
Lord Sleaford's invitation to go for a cruise in his yacht. We leave
to-morrow evening. Lord Sleaford has promised to take me to-morrow
afternoon to Mr. Wilderspin's studio, to see the great painter's
portrait of me, which is now, I understand, quite finished.'
'Why did you not ask me to accompany you, instead of asking
Sleaford?'
'I did not know that you would care to do so.' 'Dear mother,' I said,
in a tender tone that startled her, 'you must let me go with you and
Sleaford to the studio.
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