Valentine neither heard nor heeded these last words. She gave Lilias a hasty, frantic kiss, and rushed back to her own room.
"Now," she said to herself, "now—now—now—if he tells me everything, every single thing, all may be well. I won't ask him a question; but if he tells, tells of his own accord, all may be quite well yet. Oh, how my heart beats! It is good I have not learned to love him any better."
Gerald rose up at her entrance and went to meet her eagerly.
"Ah, here's my bright little wife," he said. "Give me a kiss, Valentine."
She gave it, and allowed him to fold her in his arms. She was almost passive, but her heart beat hard—she was so eagerly waiting for him to speak.
"Sit down by the fire, darling. I don't like long evenings spent away from you, Val. How did you enjoy Captain Swift?"
"We didn't go to the Haymarket; no, we are going to-morrow. Father thought it a pity you should miss such a good play."
"Then where did you go? You and Lil did not stay at home the whole evening?"
"No, father took us to another theatre. I can't tell you the name; don't ask me. I hate theatres—I detest them. I never want to go inside one again as long as I live!"
"How strongly you talk, my dear little Val. Perhaps you found it dull to-night because your husband was not with you."