"Ellerdine!" Peggy said.
"Let him ring," Collingwood answered.
They stood there for another moment clasped together, and once more the insistent summons of the bell came.
"No, no," Peggy cried; "answer him, please!"
With an odd, instinctive gesture Collingwood put his arm right round her. Before he had been straining her to him passionately. Now there was something protective in his attitude.
And again the bell whirred.
At last with great reluctance Collingwood stepped up to the wall and caught up the receiver.
"Well, well!" he said. "Who is it? What! Ad——Admaston!"
A voice which was robbed of all ordinary qualities shivered out into the room.
"My husband!" said Peggy.