He was touched with profound pity; but her mood chilled him, he dared not offer a caress.
'And then?'
'And then? Oh, then I will go to the homestead. I want rest—only rest, rest!
'Did Summers know the truth, Chris?'
She shook her head slowly.
'No,' she said. 'I deceived him—I deceived them all. I lied to everybody. I used to pride myself once, a fortnight ago, when I was a girl, on not being a liar.
'You mustn't talk in this despairing way, dear. Let me take you home. I will meet Dick an' tell him.'
'Tell him it is too late, but I am grateful all the same—very, very grateful.'
'Yes, yes. Come. You are weary; you'll be stronger to-morrow an' braver.'
He led her away, and they walked across the flat and through the paddock in silence. It seemed to Harry that she had forgotten their avowals of love. Her attitude frightened him, he dreaded lest she should be on the eve of a serious illness; he had sore misgivings and tortured himself with many doubts. Her words rang in his head with damnable iteration: 'I deceived them all. I lied to every body.'