Helena came out of her bedroom presently, closing the door behind her.
Clive went to meet her. “Am I to apologize?” he asked. “I shan’t mean it if I do. What you did was abominable.”
“Don’t scold me. I never thought I’d do such a thing. I don’t know what possessed me.”
“The devil, I should say. But I hope I’ll never see you in that mood again. You were at your unloveliest. You came near to being vulgar.”
“I was quite vulgar and you know it. Don’t let us say any more about it. Sit down here in the window.”
The window-seat was broad and deep and heavily cushioned. They made themselves very comfortable.
“You can light your pipe. I am glad you came—very glad.”
“I ought not to be here at all. I was an ungrateful wretch in the first place not to go where I ought to be now, and a weaker one to come here.”
Helena leaned her elbow on the low grating and looked up at him. There was neither childishness nor coquetry in her eyes.
“But I am glad.” She paused a moment. “I have sent away Mr. Van Rhuys.”