She huddled closer to him, and laid her head upon his shoulder as though to hide her face.
"Where did you see me?" she whispered.
"At the Decoy. East Gate. That afternoon."
Suddenly she drooped, and seemed to hang about him. He put his arms about her; otherwise she would surely have fallen.
He sank into a chair; and it was some while before she gathered herself and rose.
One hand on the mantel-piece, she stood gazing into the fire, panting.
"Alf's the only one as knows who he was—only you and Madame," she said at last. "And you're safe." She lifted her eyes to his and continued appealingly. "He done me wrong, Ernie. But he's her father all said. And I wouldn't for worlds any harm come to him through me. He was mine one time o day, tany rate. And I must protect him, best I can."
"He can protect himself, I reck'n," said Ernie bitterly. "Don't ardly need you to see to him, I reck'n."
She looked up swiftly.
"It'd wreck his career if it was known. They'd bowl him out of the Army surely."