She turned round quickly to send him away, but found him so close behind her that by merely turning she tumbled up against him.
Instantly his arms were round her, and instantly she had the feeling she had had the night before, when going to sleep, of comfort, and warmth and safety.
‘You mustn’t——’ she tried to protest; but he held her tight, and even while she said he mustn’t she knew he must, and she must.
‘Oh, Chris,’ she whispered, her cheek pressed against his coat, ‘I’m so ashamed—so ashamed——’
‘What of?’ asked Christopher, holding her so tight that even if she had wanted to she couldn’t have got away. But she didn’t want to.
‘Stephen has been here, saying the most awful things——’
‘Has he, by Jove,’ said Christopher, his head on hers, one hand softly stroking her face. ‘He’s a very good chap, though,’ he added.
‘What? Stephen? Why, you know he isn’t.’
‘But he is. He came to see me too, this afternoon.’
‘Oh.’