“I’m afraid she must have gathered something from me. Does Edith know?”
“I began to think she knew as soon as I did, if not before. She’s awfully pleased about it.”
The girl was silent for a moment. “Jack, dearest.”
“Yes?”
“Is there much you didn’t tell mother; I mean about this morning?”
“I tried just to say what would help her. The rest can keep.”
“And there was nothing that could make any difference to—to us?”
“I don’t quite understand.”
“There was something I always felt, but I couldn’t make myself tell you. It was the sensation that whatever had descended on father would also involve me in the same way. I can’t really explain beyond that, but it meant that I couldn’t surrender and let myself love you till all this had been lifted away. Last night, when I saw what happened, and in spite of the dreadfulness of it, the strangest feeling came that it had been lifted in that moment. When you were trying to help Perkins, I couldn’t avoid staring at the jade god, because I knew he had something to do with it. He stared back, and for the very first time I was not afraid of him. It was just as though Perkins had paid for everything and set me free. Tell me that nothing was said this morning by either of those men to upset that; but you must tell me on your honor.” She shivered involuntarily, but gradually her tremor ceased under his nearness and strength.
“All that was said, and I’ll tell you all of it some day, points to the same thing. There is absolutely nothing to fear. We’ll prove that very soon, you and I, and there will be no longer a jade god to work mischief. Don’t you realize, darling, those days are all past?”