It was a shock to her, there could be no doubt of that. She lay silent several minutes, her heart throbbing quick and fast. It was some little while before she could speak. When she did, she uttered only one word through pale lips:
"When?"
"Almost a week ago now," he replied. "Are you strong enough for me to tell you about it, Lina?"
"Yes," she replied, and he drew a chair to her side.
"Will you suffer me to hold your hand while I am telling you, Lina?" he inquired, fondly.
She seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, then she answered, with a slight flush:
"No; I would rather you should not do so."
A troubled look came into the blue-gray eyes a moment as they rested on the leaping flames of the fire; then he said, with apparent composure:
"You knew I had been in New York for two weeks, Lina?"
"No, I did not know it," she replied, surprised.