They had reached the room where the buffet stood. Mrs. Dennison, after a few words to Lady Valentine, who was still there, sat down on a chair a little remote from the crowd. Ruston brought her a cup of coffee, and stood in front of her, with the half-conscious intention of shielding her from notice. She drank the coffee hastily; its heat brought a slight glow to her face.
"You're going as you planned?" she asked.
He answered in low, dry tones, emptied of all emotion.
"Yes," said he, "I'm going."
She stretched out her hand towards him imploringly.
"Willie, you must take me with you," she said.
He looked down with startled face.
"My God, Maggie!" he exclaimed.
"I can't stay here. I can't stay with him."
Her lips quivered; he took her cup from her (he feared that she would let it fall), and set it on the table. Behind them he heard merry voices; Semingham's was loud among them. The voices were coming near them.