When he had finished breakfast—she ate nothing—he moved silently into his accustomed chair.
She moved across as usual to light a match for his after-breakfast pipe.
"No thanks," he said brutally. "I don't want to smoke. And I shan't work to-day of course."
She went out, hardened against such a foul attack, and half a minute later, from the next room, heard him strike a match....
Soon after eleven, when he had gone—work or no—into his own room, Lily announced Mr. Alison.
"Yes, I suppose so," she said dully.
He came in, very different from his late jaunty self, and threw a rapid glance at her, limp on the sofa. Her red eyes told their tale.
"You know then?" he asked. It was in some ways a relief.
She waited until she judged Lily to be safely through the swing-door: then she got up, by a natural instinct, and confronted him.
"I wonder," she said, "you dare come at all."