'Oh,' almost moaned Lucy at that, and her head drooped in a sudden fatigue.
Miss Entwhistle got up quickly and put her arms round her. 'Forgive me,' she said. 'That was just stupid and cruel. I think I'm hide-bound. I think I've probably got into a rut. Help me out of it, Lucy. You shall teach me to take heroic views——'
And she kissed her hot face tenderly, holding it close to her own.
'But if I could only make you see,' said Lucy, clinging to her, tears in her voice.
'But I do see that you love him very much,' said Miss Entwhistle gently, again very tenderly kissing her.
That afternoon when Wemyss appeared at five o'clock, it being his bi-weekly day for calling, he found Lucy alone.
'Why, where——? How——-?' he asked, peeping round the drawing-room as though Miss Entwhistle must be lurking behind a chair.
'I've told,' said Lucy, who looked tired.
Then he clasped her with a great hug to his heart. 'Everard's own little love,' he said, kissing and kissing her. 'Everard's own good little love.'
'Yes, but——' began Lucy faintly. She was, however, so much muffled and engulfed that her voice didn't get through.