"But he is there," said Laura. "I can't leave him."
Between her eyes and Prothero's there passed a look of eternal patience and despair. Rose saw it. She saw how it was with them, and she saw what she could do. She turned back to the door.
"You go," she said. "I'll stay with him."
From the set of her little chin you saw that protest and argument were useless.
"I can take care of him," she said. "I know how."
And as she said it there came into her face a soft flame of joy. For Tanqueray was looking at her, and smiling as he used to smile in the days when he adored her. He was thinking in this moment how adorable she was.
"You may as well let her," he said. "She isn't happy if she can't take care of somebody."
And, as they wondered at her, the door opened and closed again on Rose and her white blouse.