He smiled a little. "Yes, on business."
She turned to the fire with a shiver. There was something in the atmosphere, although the room was warm, that made her cold from head to foot. With her back to him she spoke again:
"Is there any reason why I should go too?"
He came and joined her before the fire. "Yes; one," he said.
She threw him a nervous glance. "And that?"
"You are my wife," said Field quietly.
Again that shiver caught her. She put out a hand to steady herself against the mantelpiece. When she spoke again, it was with a great effort.
"Wives are sometimes allowed a holiday away from their husbands."
Field said nothing whatever. He only looked at her with unvarying attention.
She turned at last in desperation and faced him. "Percival! Why do you look at me like that?"