No; it was only to continue one of their confidential talks, which were the joy of his life.
Jane was waiting for him in the morning-room.

Her face lighted up as he entered and took her hand, and immediately relaxed again into an expression of anxiety.
All his eagerness vanished.

He saw with a sinking of the heart, even before she had time to speak, that something outside of his own affairs, or hers, had caused her to write the note.
"I came at once," he said, keeping her hand in his.

"You look troubled; what has happened ?" "Nothing yet," she answered, leading him to the sofa, "It is about Lucy.

She wants to go away for the winter." "Where to ?" he asked.