"It is over," I said, with a smile. "I have taken my decision. It shall be as the Duke decides."
"I know how it must be with you," he replied, very gently.
The kindness of his manner seemed in some strange way to hurt me almost; at least it made me conscious of the pain of everything; and I lowered my head and wrung my hands in silence.
Then a door opened in the hall.
"Christabel, Christabel!" It was Gareth's voice, sweet and glad.
"Go to her, please, I—I cannot for the moment."
He went at once and did what was of course the best thing to do—he brought her to me.
"The Duke wishes to see Gustav alone," he said. A glance at his face told me my plan had succeeded.
Gareth caught my arm nervously. "I heard angry voices in one of the rooms, Christabel—my father's and Kar—Gustav's. What does it mean?"
"All will be well now that you have seen the Duke, dearest. Stay here a minute until I come for you."