She made one immense effort, and with both her hands pushed him away; and before he could stop her, for he too was in a dream, she had run to the door and flown along the passage to her bedroom and locked herself in.
Then she rang violently for Mrs. Mitcham, and told her through the shut door to let Mr. Monckton out—she was going to bed at once—she had a terrible headache.... And she sat down on her bed and cried bitterly.
XI
Virginia, coming back to the house on Sunday from a short after-luncheon stroll in the garden, where the daffodils were making a great show and the blackbirds a great noise, with the intention of putting her feet up till tea and lying quietly in her boudoir, was surprised to see her mother standing on the terrace.
Her first thought was of Stephen. Her mother had never yet come uninvited and unexpected. Was anything wrong with him?
She hastened her steps. ‘Anything wrong?’ she called out anxiously.
Her mother shook her head reassuringly, and came down to meet her.
They kissed.
‘I had such a longing to see you,’ said Catherine, in answer to Virginia’s face of wonder; and, clinging to her a little, she added, ‘I felt I wanted to be close to you—quite close.’
She took Virginia’s arm, and they walked back slowly towards the house.