"Remember," she said—"remember how absurd I am."
He was gone. Allida did not turn to Haldicott. She remained looking at the door that had closed on the exit of her "best beloved."
"But why?" said Haldicott. He repeated Ainslie's broken words almost faintly. "When the dream came true—why didn't you take it?"
She made no reply.
"I never meant that because it had been a dream it couldn't become a reality," he went on.
She looked vaguely round the room. Indeed, things swam to her; the nearest support was the mantelpiece. She leaned against it, looking down.
"It's not anything I said—in my efforts to shake you awake? You were in love with him, you know. Weren't you in love with him, Allida?"
"Yes; I suppose so. How can I tell you anything? All I know is that I was dreaming."
"But—why did the dream go?"
"You killed it, perhaps," she said in a colourless voice, leaning her forehead upon her hand, and still looking fixedly down.