The poor lady had touched the limit of his endurance.
"I think I must be getting to bed," he said.
"Not wait and chat while I have my lemonade? Well, dear, it is nice to see you again, and I have no doubt that Edith will see you out, and lock the door after you, so that I need not ring for Lind again. Edith, my darling, your fan! Who could have stepped on it? Was it Elizabeth? And has your ankle ceased to pain you?"
Edward followed Edith out into the hall. There was no repressing his anxiety to know.
"Did you see her?" he asked.
"Yes. Oh, Edward, I have been wronging Elizabeth so. And I am sorry. She told me she didn't care for you, not one scrap. It—it had never entered her head. I asked her forgiveness for having had such dreadful thoughts about her. I don't know how I thought so. It has made me quite happy. You see, she never thought of you. And she kissed me and forgave me."
She lifted her face to his.
"She told me to tell you," she said. "She——"
Edward kissed her quickly and stepped out into the black, cloud-shadowed night.