Neither did Thirza, but she would not admit it, and encourage Bob to take it to heart. He took things so hardly, and with such a noise!
She only said: “Poor young things! I suppose it will be a relief to Edward!”
“I love Nollie!” said Bob Pierson suddenly. “She's an affectionate creature. D-nit, I'm sorry about this. It's not so bad for young Morland; he's got the excitement—though I shouldn't like to be leaving Nollie, if I were young again. Thank God, neither of our boys is engaged. By George! when I think of them out there, and myself here, I feel as if the top of my head would come off. And those politician chaps spouting away in every country—how they can have the cheek!”
Thirza looked at him anxiously.
“And no dinner!” he said suddenly. “What d'you think they've been doing with themselves?”
“Holding each other's hands, poor dears! D'you know what time it is, Bob? Nearly one o'clock.”
“Well, all I can say is, I've had a wretched evening. Get to bed, old girl. You'll be fit for nothing.”
He was soon asleep, but Thirza lay awake, not exactly worrying, for that was not her nature, but seeing Noel's face, pale, languid, passionate, possessed by memory.