“You don't mean that!” she whispered, “what you said?”
He nodded. “You needn't bother about it at all. Everything is all right.”
She Still doubted. “But the mills?”
“The mills will be running soon.”
“Oh, really?” she said, almost wonderingly. “Really?”
The sobs were coming again. She caught his hand in both of hers and held it tightly. “Then there isn't any failure—and you are going to save our home for us?”
This was frying-pan to fire. Halloran answered hastily:
“It won't be necessary to save it. We shall be all right again soon.”
His matter-of-fact tone brought her to herself. She released his hand and, suddenly plunged into confusion, hurried upstairs.
On his way out Halloran paused in the hall. Through the wide doorway he could see Crosman, out in the sitting-room, striding around with his hands in his pockets.