"Here, Ninian," he said, pouring out some of it, "drink that. You're upset!..."
"No, I don't want any whisky. God damn it, what's the sense of a thing like this! A man like Tom Arthurs!..."
There was a noise like the sound of a taxi-cab drawing up in front of the house, and presently the bell rang, and then, after a moment or two, the door opened, and Mrs. Graham came hurrying into the room.
"Ninian! Where's Ninian?" she said wildly to Henry.
"He's here, Mrs. Graham!"
She went to him and clutched him tightly to her. "Oh, my dear, my dear," she said.
"What is it, mother?" he asked, calming himself and looking at her.
"I telephoned to your office, but you weren't there, so I came here to find you. I couldn't rest content till I'd seen you!"
"What is it, mother?"
"That ship, Ninian. If you'd been on it ... you wanted to go, and I said why didn't you ... oh, my dear, if you'd been on it, and I'd lost you!"