"I promise," Olga said.
She passed under the archway with her, paused there while another furious burst of thunder rolled above them: then gently surrendered her to Mrs. Briggs, and turned back herself into the hall.
She found Max and Nick standing together in the gloom.
"I came up here on the chance," the former was saying, "and got here just in time. Hullo! Is that a wolf?"
It was Cork, who crouched bristling against the table, with bared fangs, watching him. Olga went to him and took him by the collar.
"He's all right," she said. "I think he doesn't like strangers."
She led him also across the hall, took him to the foot of the stairs, and returned.
She felt Max's eyes upon her as she came up. He seemed to be regarding her in a new light.
"Well?" he said. "Why this hysteria? Is it due to the storm or—some other cause?"
She hesitated, finding it somehow difficult to give an answer to his cool questioning.