"I want Ladybird," he said abruptly. "Where is she?"
"I'm sorry. She has just gone out; but she won't be long."
Honor knew what must come next; knew also that she could neither lie to him nor tell him the truth.
"What possessed her to go out again? Do you know where she went?"
"Yes, Theo, I do know," she answered, coming into the room, and speaking with a noble directness that was like a light thrown across tortuous ways. "It was unavoidable. I would rather not say any more. You can trust me, can't you?"
"As I trust God and my own soul," he replied with profound conviction. "Did she seem—much upset?"
"Yes,—terribly upset. Not without reason. She told me everything. May I speak of it, Theo? You won't think me—intrusive?"
He gave her a quick, reproachful glance.
"You? Say what you please. I was a brute to her; and I know it. But I swear I wasn't hard on her till she refused to break with Kresney. Did she give you any sort of reason for that?"
"Yes; and I have quite cleared up the difficulty; though I'm afraid you mustn't ask me how."