"I can't think so," Justine held out.
"Nevertheless—will you try?"
"No—no! It might be fatal."
"To whom?"
"To both." She considered. "If he came back now I know he would not stay."
Mrs. Ansell was upon her abruptly. "You know? Then you speak with authority?"
"No—what authority? I speak as I feel," Justine faltered.
The older woman drew herself to her feet. "Ah—then you shoulder a great responsibility!" She moved nearer to Justine, and once more laid a fugitive touch upon her. "You won't write to him?"
"No—no," the girl flung back; and the voices of the returning party in the hall made Mrs. Ansell, with an almost imperceptible gesture of warning, turn musingly away toward the fire.