However, he turned at the foot of the
upper flight.
"I would like to talk to you, Lily. Will you come upstairs?"
She had been summoned before to those mysterious upper rooms of his,
where entrance was always by request, and generally such requests
presaged trouble. But she followed him light-heartedly enough then.
His rare compliment had pleased and touched her.
The lamp beside his high-backed, almost throne-like chair was
lighted, and in the dressing-room beyond his valet was moving about,
preparing for the night. Anthony dismissed the man, and sat down
under the lamp.
"You heard the discussion downstairs, to-night, Lily. Personally
I anticipate no trouble, but if there is any it may be directed at
this house." He smiled grimly. "I cannot rely on my personal
popularity to protect me, I fear. Your mother obstinately refuses
to leave your father, but I have decided to send you to your
grand-aunt Caroline."
"Aunt Caroline! She doesn't care for me, grandfather. She never
has."
"That is hardly pertinent, is it? The situation is this: She intends
to open the Newport house early in June, and at my request she will
bring you out there.
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