He knew she was spending most of her days at Linndale, and he had a vague idea that she and Rodney together had been elaborating still further on the plans for the house. It was the furtiveness of it rather than the fact itself that troubled him. He was open and straightforward himself. Why couldn't Natalie be frank with him?
It was Mrs. Haverford, punctually paying her dinner-call in an age which exacts dinner-calls no longer--even from its bachelors--who brought Natalie the news of Chris's going. Natalie, who went down to see her with a mental protest, found her at a drawing-room window, making violent signals at somebody without, and was unable to conceal her amazement.
“It's Delight,” explained Mrs. Haverford. “She's driving me round. She won't come in, and she's forgotten her fur coat. And it's simply bitter outside. Well, my dear, how are you?”
Natalie was well, and said so. She was conscious that Mrs. Haverford was listening with only half an ear, and indeed, a moment later she had risen again and hurried to the window.
“Natalie!” she cried. “Do come and watch. She's turning the car. We do think she drives wonderfully. Only a few days, too.”
“I'm sure I don't know. Unless she is afraid Graham may be here.”
“What in the world has Graham got to do with it?” Natalie's voice was faintly scornful.
“I was going to ask you that, Natalie. Have they quarreled, or anything?”
“I don't think they meet at all, do they?”
“They met once since Clayton gave Doctor Haverford the car. Graham helped her when she had got into a ditch, I believe. And I thought perhaps they had quarreled about something.”
“That would imply a degree of intimacy that hardly exists, does it?” Natalie said, sharply.
But Mrs. Haverford had not fought the verbal battles of the parish for twenty years in vain.
“It was the day of that unfortunate incident at the country club, Natalie.”
“He is quite well again,” Natalie said impatiently “I can not understand the amount of fuss every one makes over the boy. He ran in front of where Graham was driving and got what he probably deserved.”
“I understand Clayton has given him a position.”
“How like dear Clayton!” breathed Mrs. Haverford, and counted the honors as hers. But she had not come to quarrel. She had had, indeed, a frankly benevolent purpose in coming, and she proceeded to carry it out at once.