There fell a most unexpected silence.
She broke it with words imploring, almost agonised. "Nick! Nick! Come and speak to me—for Heaven's sake!"
His flippant voice greeted her at once in a tone of cheerful inquiry.
"That you, Muriel?"
Her agitation began to subside of itself. Nothing could have been more casual than his question. "Yes," she said in reply. "Why are you out there? Why don't you come in?"
"My dear girl,—at this hour!" There was shocked reproof in the ejaculation. Nick was evidently scandalised at the suggestion.
Muriel lost her patience forthwith. Was it for this that she had spent all those miserable hours of fruitless heart-searching? His trifling was worse than ridiculous. It was insufferable.
"You are to come in at once," she said, in a tone of authority.
"What for?" said Nick.
"Because—because—" She hesitated, and stopped, her face burning.
"Because—" said Nick encouragingly.