She rose in her turn.
"But, Dudley—" she began.
And then, unable to express what she felt, what she thought, any better than he had done, she turned abruptly away and sat down again.
There was silence for a few moments, and then she heard the door close. Looking round, she saw that he had left the room.
CHAPTER VI.
THE LITTLE STONE PASSAGE.
Queenie kept Dudley's half-confessed secret to herself for the whole of that day. She was hoping against hope that he would change his mind again and speak to Doreen himself. Since there must be a definite and final breach, she thought it would be better for the principals themselves to come to an understanding, without the intervention of outsiders. She would have told him so, but she got no further opportunity of speaking to him alone.
The day passed uncomfortably for everybody, although the only person who gave vent to his feelings by open ill-temper was Mr. Wedmore, who was waiting for the promised explanation which Dudley never attempted to give. And before dinner-time that evening the young barrister returned to town.
Mr. Wedmore, who had been out shooting with Doctor Haselden, was furious, on returning home, to learn of Dudley's departure.