"Sit down again!" he said gently, and, stooping, poked the sinking fire into a blaze.
She obeyed him almost automatically. After a moment he laid down the poker, and drew the chair with her in it close to the fender. Then he picked up the cloak and put it about her shoulders, and finally moved away to the door.
She heard him give an order to a servant, and sat nervously awaiting his return. But he did not come back to her. He went outside and waited in the passage.
There ensued an interval of several minutes, and during that time she sat crouched over the fire, holding her cloak about her, and shivering, shivering all over. Then the door which he had left ajar closed quietly, and she knew that he had come back into the room.
She drew herself together, striving desperately to subdue her agitation.
He came to her side and stooped over her. "I want you to drink this," he said.
She glanced up at him swiftly, and as swiftly looked away. "Don't bother about me!" she said. "I—am not worth it."
He passed the low words by. "It's only milk with a dash of brandy," he said. "Won't you try it?"
Very reluctantly she took the steaming beverage from him and began to drink.
He remained beside her, and took the cup from her when she had finished.