He continued to smile jauntily, but his lips twitched with the strain. He put his arm round her shoulder and drew her towards him. “This day month, my girl,” he said, and kissed her. She stiffened at his touch. Her lips were cold, and made him shiver. His arm fell back. “Pooh! what do you care?” She stood in her place before him without speaking. If she had looked at him she might have stricken him blind. When Lady Maria came in, she moved away, and returned to the window. The glow had almost gone; nothing remained but wan blue, white towards the horizon. It was the colour of death; but a single star shone out in it.
Chevenix came in briskly, fastening his sleeve-links. “Here is the Perfect Chaperon, here is he!” he said, and bowed to Lady Maria. “My dear Aunt Wenman, you've no notion how hungry I am. We saw Senhouse teaching the hares their catechism. Afterwards we lunched on conversation and water. Ah, and salad. Excellent salad. Then I went goat-stalking, and had a nap. Sancie and the Seer conversed. A great day.”
Lady Maria took Ingram's arm, Sanchia that of Chevenix, and they went downstairs. Half-way down she stopped. Chevenix looked at her. She was white; she could hardly breathe. “Good God, Sancie, what's the matter?”
She stared, gasped, moved her head about. “I can't go on—I can't—I can't. It's horrible—it's awful—I'm afraid. Hush—don't make a fuss. I'm going away. This isn't possible.”
The other couple were in the dining-room by now. Chevenix didn't know what to do.
“There's dinner, you know, Sancie,” he said. “That's an institution, eh? You'll feel better, I expect. Keep your pecker up. I'll have a go at Nevile for you. I swear I will. Now, where's your pluck, my dear?”
She shook her head, struggling all the time to get her breath. “It's gone—clean gone.”
“You want food, Sancie; that's what you want. Come. Don't let's have a commotion. You leave all this to me.”
She leaned against the wall, and brushed her hand across her face. Chevenix was in despair. Nevile, from below, called up, “What are you two conspiring about?” Sanchia shivered, and stood up.
“Go down alone,” she said. “I can't.”