That was all. Rose heard his footsteps down the hall—heard the hall door close. She was still standing in the middle of the room, where he had left her; she did not know how long she had been standing there, when Cecily came in.
“He’s gone,” cried Rose. “He wouldn’t stay. Shall I call him back?” she asked, desperately. “He told me you had said good-bye.”
Cecily was very pale. She turned a little paler before she spoke.
“No,” she said, slowly. “He is right. Don’t call him. We have said good-bye.”
“Cis?” whispered Rose. “Is it all right?”
“Oh, yes! I suppose it’s all right,” she answered in a dazed voice.
Then she went into her bedroom and shut the door.
Rose did not follow her.
CHAPTER XXVII
IT was after dusk the following evening when Robert drove across town from Liverpool Street.