"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely. You must ask her."
"I will of course——"
He lay back on his sofa. For a little time there was silence between them. She was filled now with wild regrets. She wished that she had said nothing. His face was hard and old—She wished ... she scarcely knew what she wished; she only knew that suddenly she was tired and would like to go home.
A bell was rung and Christopher was sent for. She would like to have kissed Roddy, but only wagged her bony finger at him—
"Now be a good patient boy and I'll soon come again."
IV
Meanwhile, five minutes before this, Rachel had come in. She was told of the visits, and going swiftly to the little drawing-room upstairs had found Christopher.
She flung her arms around him and kissed him.