'She hasn't left her room for three weeks.'

They exchanged a look of some special significance.

'Then I suppose,' said Nancy, with a peculiar smile, 'that's why Mr
Tarrant has been calling?'

'Has he? How do you know?'

Again they looked at each other, and Nancy laughed.

'I have happened to meet him twice, the last few days.' She spoke in
an off-hand way. 'The first time, it was just at the top of the
lane; he was coming away. The second time, I was walking along
Champion Hill, and he came up behind me, going to the house.'

'Did he talk?'

Nancy gave a nod.

'Yes, both times. But he didn't tell me that the dowager was worse.'

'High and mighty?' asked Jessica.

'Not quite so majestic as usual, I thought. I didn't feel quite so
much of a shrimp before him. And decidedly he was in better spirits.
Perhaps the dowager's death would be important to him?'

'Very likely. Will you come to-morrow?'