So they stood in silence for a moment, facing each other, Lucy full-handed and impotent before Peter whose empty hands hung closed and unreceiving; Lucy and Peter, who had once been used to go shares and to give and take like two children, and who could give and take no more; and in the silence something oddly vibrated, so that Lord Evelyn, the onlooker, abruptly moved and spoke.
"Come home, Lucy. He's told us he'll have none of us."
Lucy still stood pleading, like a child; then, at Lord Evelyn's touch on her arm, she suddenly began to cry, again like a child, helpless and conquered.
At her tears Peter turned away sharply, and walked to the window.
"Please go," he said. "Please go."
They went, Lucy quietly crying, and Lord Evelyn, suddenly become oddly gentle, comforting her.
At the door he paused for a moment, looked round at Peter, hesitated, took a step back towards him, began to say something.
"Peter...."
Then Peggy came in, followed by Hilary. Lord Evelyn shut his lips lightly, bowed, and followed Lucy downstairs. Peggy went after them to let them out.
Hilary flung himself into a chair.