"You wrong him and yourself. No, Stel, men do not forget such a girl as you——"
"No more!" she said, almost in a tone of command.
He shook his head, and the cough came on and silenced him.
She put her arm round his neck.
"That cough," she said. "You must go in, dear! Look at the mist. Come, come in!"
He turned in silence and walked beside her for a few steps. Then he said tremulously:
"Stella, let me ask one question, and then I will be silent—for always."
"Well?" she said.
"Have you heard from him?—do you know where he is?"
She paused a moment to control her voice, then she said: