John.

I suppose that’s it. Ah, but her face! I hadn’t seen it for months. And the silence between us was so strange.

Shafto.

Yes, there wasn’t much of that, old chap, between you two when you were together.

John.

No; didn’t we quarrel! And yet, this morning, during our little deadly-silent encounter, she seemed to say more to me than she’d ever said in her life before. By Jove, she has suffered—[starting up]—oh, damn it!

[He paces to and fro; Elphick hurriedly resumes his playing.

Shafto.

[Seating himself on the back of the settee, speaking with a drawl.] Ah, I shouldn’t worry myself too much, if I were you, about that. Other people have suffered.

John.