‘To-night.’
Eustasia sank into her chair, and, without another word, Bradley departed.
At seven o’clock that night Bradley returned, and found the sibyl waiting for him.
She was quite alone. Since the morning her manner had completely changed; her hands were trembling, her cheek was hushed, but there was a look of strange determination about her lips and in her eyes. Bradley shook hands with her, then looked around as if expecting others.
She smiled curiously.
‘We are to be alone!’ she said—‘quite alone. I thought it better for you!’
For some time she made no attempt to move; at length, noticing Bradley’s impatience, she said quietly—
‘We will begin.’
She rose and placed herself opposite Bradley, and fixed her eyes intently upon him. Then, at her request, he turned down the gas; they were in almost total darkness touching hands.
For some time after Bradley sat in a strange dream, scarcely conscious of anything that was taking place, and touching the outstretched hands of Eustasia with his own.