"Do come in!" "Not now, my dear.

I must get back to London as soon as I can.

There is some more work to be done for you, and the sooner I do it the better." She heard his excuse without heeding it.
"You are not like yourself, Robert," she said.

"Why is it?
What are you thinking of ?" He was thinking of the bright blush that overspread her face when Hardyman first spoke to her; he was thinking of the invitation to her to see the stud-farm, and to ride the roan mare; he was thinking of the utterly powerless position in which he stood towards Isabel and towards the highly-born gentleman who admired her.

But he kept his doubts and fears to himself.