"Tea? Oh, thank you, Mr. Desboro; but when the light fails, I'll have to go."
It was failing fast. She used the delicate tips of her fingers more often in examining engraved, inlaid, and embossed surfaces.
"I never had electricity put into the armoury," he said. "I'm sorry now—for your sake."
"I'm sorry, too. I could have worked until six."
"There!" he said, laughing. "You have admitted it! What are you going to do for nearly two hours if you don't take tea? Your train doesn't leave until six. Did you propose to go to the station and sit there?"
Her confused laughter was very sweet, and she admitted that she had nothing to do after the light failed except to fold her hands and wait for the train.
"Then won't you have tea?"
"I'd—rather not!"
He said: "You could take it alone in your room if you liked—and rest a little. Mrs. Quant will call you."
She looked up at him after a moment, and her cheeks were very pink and her eyes brilliant.