Until now she had forgotten Chris! She had forgotten everything.
She turned quickly to the man behind her.
"I am quite ready." She was only anxious now to go.
He kissed her again on the dark stairs, very humbly and reverently, and he kept her hand in his as they walked together along the street.
"Is it very late?" she asked once, and he said: "No—only ten; do you think they will have missed you?"
"I locked my door; they will think I am asleep. Greyson will let me in."
He clenched his teeth in the darkness. Already the lying and subterfuge had begun. Where was it going to end? He could feel shame like a mantle on his broad shoulders.
He said good-night to her at the end of the street, following her slowly till she was safe indoors. Then he turned and walked back to his rooms. His head was burning, and he took off his hat to bare it to the cool night air. He did not know if he was more happy than he had ever been in his life before, or unutterably wretched.
The thought of her kisses made his head reel, but the shame of his own pitiable weakness was like a searing flame.
265 He had said that he would take her away to-morrow. He was going to cut her off from everything she had held dear, and make her a nameless outcast! He was prepared to bring his idol down to the dust at his feet.