He did not know he had called her by her Christian name, and she hardly noticed it at the moment. She only bent her head and answered:
“Yes, it is true.”
Together they passed into the lighted drawing-room, and stood on either side the glowing hearth, looking at each other fixedly.
“Where is Monica?”
“In the music-room, alone. They were there together when the guns began. It will kill her, I am certain it will!”
“No,” answered Tom quietly; “she will not die. It would be happier for her if she could.”
Beatrice looked at him with quivering lips.
“Oh!” she said at last. “You understand her?”
“Yes,” he answered absently, looking away into the fire. “I understand her. She will not die.”