Almost directly she heard the sound of wheels, and Caroline jumping down with her lopetty movement, delivered herself up to a succession of calm barks. She was a gentle individual, and never showed any great animation, even in such a crisis as this. The sound of wheels ceased, and in a moment a voice called:
"Charmian! Where are you?"
"Claude!"
She felt that her face grew hot, though she was alone, and she had spoken the name to herself, for herself.
"I'm out here on the terrace!"
She felt astonished, guilty. She had thought that he would only come when she summoned him, perhaps to-morrow, that he would learn by telegram of the arrival of Crayford and Alston. Now she would have to tell him.
He came out into the court, looking very tall in the night.
"Are you surprised?"
He kissed her.
"Very! Very surprised!"