"I've a little business to look after while I'm up," he added, "and I should be back in Bath to-night."
"You've been so good," she said, giving him her hand. "I shall miss you awfully. You'll be up again soon, won't you, Gerald?"
The door-bell echoed, and at the same instant Tara lifted his head and growled. Neither seemed to notice.
The man drew her closer and placed his disengaged hand on her shoulder.
"I'd give the world, Nina," he said, "to make this thing lighter for you. If I could only help in some real way!"
"You do; you do," she assured him. "Your sympathy is everything to me."
There was a step in the passage, but neither heard it. For it was at that moment that he caught her almost roughly in his arms and crushed her close to him.
And then the door opened, and Kneedrock was gazing at them from the threshold.