Furlonger winced, and gave her his arm, hoping she would not notice how it shook.
They walked slowly out of Furnace Wood, towards the leaden east. Tony limped slightly, and Nigel wanted to carry her, but he dared not risk his patched self-control too far.
"You should never have come all this way alone," he said gruffly, "these woods by the quarries are dangerous."
"I expect my father will be furious when he finds out what I've done. But I hoped that if I walked across the fields, instead of driving round by the road, I—I might meet my fiancé on his way home from the station."
A tremulous archness crept into her voice. Nigel shuddered.
"I'm pleased I met you," she said gently, after a pause, "because I wanted to tell you how dreadfully sorry I am about your brother."
"Thank you."
"And I want to tell you that I'm so glad about your success in London. I saw in the papers how you distinguished yourself at Herr von Gleichroeder's concert."
Nigel did not speak.
"I suppose you'll soon be going back to town?" she went on timidly.