Stonor, looking around, said: “I suppose he used this as a sort of vestibule in the winter, to keep the wind and the snow out of his living-room.”
“Where can he be?” said Clare nervously.
They both spoke instinctively in subdued tones, like intruders fearful of being overheard.
“He can’t have been gone long. He was smoking here just now. The fireplace is still warm.”
“He can’t have intended to stay long, for he left everything open.”
“Well, he would hardly expect to be disturbed up here.”
“But animals?”
“No wild thing would venture close to the fresh man smell. Still, it’s natural to close up when you go away.”
“What do you think?” she asked tremulously.
The sight of her wide, strained eyes, and the little teeth pressed into her lower lip, were inexpressibly painful to him. Clearly it was too much to ask of the high-strung woman, after she had nerved herself up to the ordeal, to go on waiting indefinitely in suspense.