"I wish to hear," Helen answered, almost fiercely. "I will hear."
Norine threw open a door.
"Wait in this room. I will leave the door ajar. My maid shall take the children. And be sure of this—neither by word nor look shall I tempt your husband to say one word more than he has come to say to-night."
Helen Thorndyke passed into the inner room. Norine Darcy rang for the servant waiting without.
"Show Mr. Thorndyke up."
He came, bounding lightly and eagerly up the stairs, and entered. She arose from her seat to meet him. In full evening dress, his face slightly flushed, his blue eyes all alight with eagerness, he had never perhaps, in the days when she had adored him, looked so handsome as now.
She smiled a little to herself as she recalled that infatuation; how long ago it seemed. And for this good-looking, well-dressed, heartless libertine, she had gone near to the gates of death.
"Norine!"
He clasped the small hand, shining with diamonds, that she extended, in both his, his tone, his eyes speaking volumes.
"Good-evening, Mr. Thorndyke. Will you be seated? Quite chilly for September, is it not, to-night?"