"I don't remember."
"Sit still and eat one of my sandwiches." She divided one into strips, and standing over him began to feed him. A knock at the door arrested her.
"Don't move!" she said, peremptorily, before she ran to open the door.
"Please, my lady," said Blanche, "Lady Tranmore would like to see you."
Kitty started and flushed. She looked round uncertainly at Ashe.
"Ask her ladyship to come up," said Ashe, quietly.
The maid departed.
"Feed me if you want to, Kitty," said Ashe, still seated.
Kitty returned, her breath hurried, her step wavering. She looked doubtfully at Ashe—then her eyes sparkled—as she understood. She dropped on her knees beside him, kissing the sleeve of his coat, against which her cheek was pressed—in a passion of repentance.
He bent towards her, touching her hair, murmuring over her. His mind meanwhile was torn with feelings which, so to speak, observed each other. This thing which had happened was horribly serious—important. It might easily have wrecked two lives. Had he dealt with it as he ought—made Kitty feel the gravity of it?