Then she went on reading to the bitter end.
Presently a little cry escaped her against her will.

At that her mother looked up, but she only saw her daughter's back, as she rose hurriedly from the table, saying that she would return in a moment.

Mrs.Armour, however, had been startled.

She knew that Marion had been reading a letter, and, with a mother's instinct, her thoughts were instantly on Frank.

She spoke quickly, almost sharply: "Marion, come here." Richard had risen.