“You hit the right note straight off, Hal. Quin was awfully pleased. Talk to them on their own level first, and presently you’ll be getting them struggling up to yours almost without knowing it. He’s frightfully keen for you to go again.”
“I’m going every Wednesday,” she said, “and other times as well.”
They parted at the door, and Hal went in alone.
The moment she stood in the sitting-room she knew that something had happened. Dudley was sitting in his big chair by the fire, holding neither book nor paper, gazing silently at the flames.
At the table she stood still.
“What’s the matter, Dudley?… What has happened?”
There were a few moments’ silence, then, scarcely looking round, he replied:
“She’s gone. Run away with another man.”
“Gone!…” she echoed. “Gone… with another man! … Do you mean Doris?”
“Yes. She was married at a Registry Office this morning. A messenger boy took the letter up this evening, after they had left for the Continent.”