He thought Evelyn would have fainted, but she did not.
"Thanks—no—I am not ill," she said in a low voice, as a slight gesture on his part showed the expectation. She grow colourless, and there was a deep sigh, but she stood firm. "Then, if—if they were on board—"
"We have no certainty that they were."
"They had made up their minds, I am afraid."
"A dozen things may have intervened—to prevent—"
"Yes—if—" and another sigh. "Poor boy!"
"If I could but have kept it from you—at least till we were sure!"
The look she gave him was very sweet. "Thanks—I know you would do all you could," she said, with a momentary wonder that she should ever have called him cold. "But indeed I am not thinking of myself. Jean must not know."
"Impossible to hide it. Captain Lucas happened to hear by private telegram. He had a cousin on board; and he has a friend at the head-office. To-morrow morning it will be in the papers."
"Then you must countermand your papers for to-morrow morning. It is the only thing to do. Jean will think they have been forgotten. And I will take her away—at once. Not too far, but abroad—to Rouen, I think. We could get home quickly from there—if—but Jean must not hear yet—till we know! To lose—both—at one blow! It would be too terrible!"