'I'll come.'
He took her again in his embrace, softly, tenderly, as if she were some fragile, priceless thing. His voice trembled.
'You darling! When?'
'Now. Since all's over, and everything's to begin again, the sooner a beginning's made the better.' A sort of rage came into her voice--a note of hysteric pain. 'If you're to take me, take me as I am, in what I stand. I dare say he'll send my clothes on after me--and my jewels, perhaps.'
It seemed as if her tone troubled him, as if he endeavoured to soothe her.
'Don't talk like that, Doris. Everything that you want I'll get you-- all that your heart can desire.'
'Except peace of mind!'
'I trust that I shall be able to get you even that. Only come!'
'Don't I tell you that I am ready? Why don't you start?'
He appeared to find her manner disconcerting. He searched her face, as if to discover if she were in earnest, then looked at his watch.