Part 111 (1/2)

She went into the hall smiling faintly.

”So you have come! I was just going to speak to your man through the telephone, to tell him not to bother you, that it didn't matter, and that to-morrow would do as well. It's so very late.”

He began to take off his overcoat, helped by Murgatroyd.

”Not a bit too late!” he said. ”I shall enjoy a little talk with you by the fire. Thanks, Murgatroyd! I was dining out with the Montgomeries in Eaton Square.”

”Come upstairs.”

She led the way, and as she mounted slowly with him close behind her she felt weak and now horribly afraid. She went into the drawing-room.

He followed and shut the door, then came slowly, with his firm tread, towards her and the fire.

”Ah!” he said. ”You thought of me!”

He had seen the cigar-box, the whisky and Perrier. A very gentle, intensely kind, almost beaming look came into his lined face.

”Or--was it Murgatroyd?”

”No.”

”I wonder whether you know what it means to an old fellow like myself to be thought of now and then in these little ways!”

”Oh--Seymour!” she said.

Tears stood in her eyes. His few simple words had suddenly brought home to her in a strange, intense way the long loneliness to which she had condemned him. And now he was an old fellow! And he was grateful, beamingly grateful, for a little commonplace thought about his comfort such as any hostess might surely have had!

”Don't!” she added. ”You hurt me when you say such a thing.”

”Do I? And if I take a cigar?”

”Here! Let me clip it for you!”

As she clipped it he said:

”There is nothing serious the matter, is there, Adela? When I had your message I felt a little anxious.”

She lit a match for him. She felt very tender over him, but she felt also very much afraid of him.

”Your hand is trembling, my dear!”

He took hold of her wrist, and held it while she lit his cigar. And his dry, firm fingers seemed to send her some strength.

”If only I had as little to be ashamed of as he has!” she thought, with a sort of writhing despair.

And she longed, as never before, for an easy conscience.

”I've had rather a trying time just lately,” she said. ”Come and sit down. Will you drink something?”

”Not yet, thank you.”