He is blind and dizzy with pain. A word, a look from her, and he knows that his strength will be broken like a reed—that he will never leave her again; and in his blindness and dizziness and agony of heart he rushes away, flings the door wide open, and finds himself face to face with—Sir Francis Vavasour!
CHAPTER XXV
Fate delights in playing mankind spiteful tricks.
The present instance is no exception. Lauraine has sunk back into her chair, faint and spent with emotion; scarcely conscious, indeed, of what is going on around her; and in this state her husband's rough voice breaks upon her ear.
"What the devil's the matter? I met Athelstone flying out like a bomb-shell, and you look like a ghost. Have you been having a—fraternal quarrel?"
She starts to her feet and looks at him with wild, wide eyes. "Francis, you—" she gasps.
"You don't seem very pleased to see me," says her husband, looking at her suspiciously. "What on earth have you been doing with yourself? You look as ill as possible." He takes her hand and kisses her carelessly on the cheek as he speaks.
"I have not been well," she falters, trying for composure, "and Etwynde asked me to come to her for a few weeks, and I thought the change would do me good. How is it you are in London? Did you know I was here?"
"Yes. I got your letter at the club and came on. I only arrived last night."