Perhaps, if the truth were known, Mrs Rendell was scarcely less excited
than her daughters at the prospect of being admitted into the presence
of the mysterious stranger; but if this were so, she was doomed to
disappointment, for the invalid seemed too weary and dispirited to enter
into conversation, and it was only by a most apparent effort that he
roused himself to reply to her remarks. Mrs Rendell would have felt
repelled by his coldness of manner, had it not been for one redeeming
point--his unaffected interest in her children! The wan face brightened
into a smile at the mention of Nan's name, and he begged that the girl
might be allowed to come over to see him "often--as often as possible,"
in a tone of unmistakable sincerity. Mrs Rendell assented graciously;
and, mindful of the reproaches which would be hurled at her head if she
returned without doing her best for every member of the family,
suggested that perhaps Mr Vanburgh would like to make the acquaintance
of the other girls also! He hesitated for a moment, but looked
gratified by the suggestion.