The girl busied herself in arranging an arm-chair with cushions, and made her lover sit down when he was in the room. "There! you're more comfortable." She sat down beside him. "I'll get you a cup of tea."
"Don't bother," murmured Allen, closing his eyes.
"It's no bother. In any case tea will have to be brought in. Mrs. Palmer is coming to see me soon. She wants to talk to me."
"What about?"
"I can't say; but she asked me particularly to be at home to-day. We can have our talk first, though. Do smoke, Allen."
"No. I don't feel inclined to smoke."
"Will you have some fruit?"
"No, thank you," he said, so listlessly that Eva looked at him in alarm. She noted how thin his face was, and how he had lost his colour.
"You do look ill, Allen."
He smiled faintly. "The foot has pulled me down."