"No!"
Now he was puzzled. His eyes frowned straight into hers.
"Then what? Come along, Sally, out with it."
She turned her head away. He heard the sound in her throat as she began to form the words. But she could not say it. Then her hands covered her face, for a moment stayed there; at last she took them away and met the beating gaze of his eyes.
"If I had a child," she said quickly.
His forehead creased, line upon line. He took a deep breath and leant back in his chair.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"If I had a child," she repeated, "I shouldn't be lonely then. I should have some one to do all these things for then. I should have something to live for."
Traill stood abruptly to his feet. "You're—you're crazy!" he exclaimed.
She stood beside him. Her hand stretched out nervously, touching his coat.