She looked round with a start. He had turned in his chair. Their eyes met across the room.
"May I?" he said.
She nodded, finding her voice with an effort. "Yes—of course."
He got up, and as he did so the great dinner-gong sounded through the house. He came to her side. She rose quickly at his approach, moving almost apprehensively.
"Shall we go down?" she said.
He put out a hand and linked it in her arm. She shrank at his touch, but she endured it. She even, after a moment, seemed to be in a measure steadied by it. She stood motionless for a few seconds, and during those seconds his fingers closed upon her, very gentle, very firmly; then opened and set her free.
"Will you lead the way?" he said.
CHAPTER VI
A very hilarious party gathered at the table that night. Burleigh Wentworth was in uproarious spirits which seemed to infect nearly everyone else.