Then suddenly, at her voice and the assurance of her bodily presence, a great wave from the ocean of duty broke thunderous on the shore of his consciousness.
'Dorothy, I am bound to question thee,' he said: 'whence comest thou? and whither art thou bound?'
'If I should refuse to answer thee, Richard?' returned Dorothy with a smile.
'Then must I take thee to headquarters. And bethink thee, Dorothy, how that would cut me to the heart.'
The moon shone full upon his face, and Dorothy saw the end of a great scar that came from under his hat down on to his forehead.
'Then will I answer thee, Richard,' she said, with a strange trembling in her voice. '—I come from Raglan.'
'And whither art going, Dorothy?'
'To Wyfern.'
'On what business?'
'Were it then so wonderful, Richard, if I should desire to be at home, seeing Wyfern is now safer than Raglan? It was for safety I went thither, thou knowest.'