But before the words were out, he had her in his arms; and for a supreme moment the great illusion was theirs that they were not two, but one, as the Book decrees.
Then she pushed him gently into a chair, and kneeling beside him drew his arm around her, resting her head against his in a fashion inexpressibly tender. The natural dignity that was hers set a high value on such sweet familiarities: and if Desmond submitted to them in silence, it was because the man in him was too deeply moved for speech.
Then she told him, at some length, all that she had gleaned of the past and present relations between Lenox and his wife.
"Now, do you see how I came to lose sight of everything for the time being?" she concluded, smiling up at him. "So far as I can gather, things seem to be at a deadlock, unless one can persuade him to take the first step forward."
"And you want to play Providence, as usual? Is that it?"
"Don't laugh at me, Theo! I am in earnest. I would gladly move heaven and earth to put things straight between them."
"But this seems a case of moving a Scot. A far tougher job, I can tell you!"
"Well, I think I moved him a little to-night; and he is coming round to-morrow for a ride." Desmond frowned; and she made haste to add; "Now that is just where I must have your co-operation, Theo, or I can do nothing. I want you to trust me, and give me a free hand for these next few weeks. Will you, . . please?"
"Does that mean I am to let you be about with Lenox as much as you choose?"
"Probably not more than I have been so far. I only want to be sure that whatever I do you won't speak to me again as you did to-night."