She put the question tremblingly; holding the glass to her lips as she did so with a shaking hand.
"At once."
A feeling of anger took possession of him: that she could put such a question; he continued:
"How can you ask?"
Her only answer was a soulful, grateful cry; a cry from her heart:
"Thank God!"
He was feeling himself considerably less of a hero than on the last occasion of their meeting. But this was not a time for thought; as he opened the door he said, speaking almost gruffly:
"You can see your way?"
There was quite light enough shed by the moon for that; and there was light ahead too! She knew she could rely on him; the very sound of his voice told her that; was an inspiration in itself. Making her way to the hall door she staggered out; down the little stone flight to the pavement.
Ere she reached the bottom step, he had turned down the lamp, closed the house door and joined her.