He flushed hotly, and again remorse gripped her as she saw the haggard lines draw in about his eyes.
"I can only ask your pardon," he answered. "I ask it, humbly and contritely." He gave a wry little smile. "And perhaps circumstance is to blame, after all."
Opportunity halted in her flight, hesitated, gave a returning step towards beckoning remorse. There was a shuffling sound at the door of the lazaret, and opportunity wheeled and fled.
"Let me in!" said a childish voice impatiently. "It's me! It's me! Let me in!"
The girl started forward.
"John!" she cried. "Little John! Find the bolt! It's your side of the door!"
The shuffling, scrabbling sound continued. An impatient foot kicked the panel. And then suddenly, creakingly, the door flew back. The child pranced gaily over the threshold.
"I just kicked, so!" he explained, "and it flew in! I did not know there was a cupboard here." He gave a shrill little shout of amazement and capered towards Aylmer. "It's the pig man!" he cried. "The pig man!"
Claire's arms closed about him and snatched him to her.
"Oh, John—Little John!" she whispered fiercely. "Aren't you glad to see me, me?"