“There is no longer any reason for me to stop here,” he said. “It’s rather a rough night, but if you don’t think it is very rude and abrupt of me, I think I’ll go back to town at once.”
Then Maud’s lip quivered, and her eyes brimmed over.
“Without letting me say ‘God bless you?’” she asked.
“No; thank you for that,” he said gravely.
She took both his hands in hers for a moment, silently thanking him. Then she looked at him once more.
“You mustn’t think of going up to-night, or to-morrow, or, I hope, for a long time,” she said. “You say your work is over, and so I believe. But won’t you stay a little while with your friends when they ask you?”
“As your friend?” he said.
“Yes, mine and Thurso’s.”
They looked at each other, still gravely.
“Thanks, yes,” he said. “It is kind of you.”