Stonor bent over Clare. “Don’t, don’t grieve so!” he murmured. “Everything is all right now.”
“I know,” she whispered. “It’s just—just relief. I’m just silly now. To-day was too much—too much to bear!”
“I know,” he said. “Come away with me.”
He helped her to her feet and they walked away along the beach. Imbrie’s eyes as they followed were not pleasant to see.
“Martin, I must touch you—to prove that you’re real,” she said appealingly. “Is it wrong?”
“Take my arm,” he said. He drew her close to his side.
“Martin, that man cannot ever have been my husband. It is not possible I could ever have given myself to such a one!”
“I don’t believe he is.”
“Martin, I meant to throw myself in the river to-night if you had not come.”
“Ah, don’t! I can’t bear it! I saw.”