She seemed quite happy to be left with Millicent Atkins, and Chris felt sure she would be safe with her and well cared for.
"I will come and see you every day, Marie Celeste," Chris said again, and she said: "Yes, thank you," but he had the curious impression all the time that she hardly heard or understood what he was saying.
It was only just as he was going and had impulsively raised her hand to his lips to kiss it that a little look almost of horror crossed her white face.
"No—no—please!" she said.
She tore her hand from him and ran from the room.
"She will be better soon," Millicent assured Chris, seeing the pain in his eyes as he bade her good-bye, "If you take my advice, Mr. Lawless, you will leave her alone for a day or two. She has had a terrible shock, you know." She was a kind-faced girl, with steady, capable eyes that had seen a great deal more than she had been told.
Chris would not listen. He must come down the following day, he said; he could not rest if he stayed away.
He felt desperate as he drove back to London. What was the good of living? There was nothing in the future for him.
300 He made up his mind that he would sell the London house and everything in it as soon as possible, and take Marie away and make a fresh start; but . . . would she go with him? Somehow he did not think that she would.
He had left it to Millicent Atkins to break the news of Miss Chester's death to her, and it was with an unhappy heart that he went down to the cottage the following afternoon.