"It's the first time I've ever seen your face; but I recognized your voice and, if you will come into the house for a moment, I can restore a certain flask."
Eric turned on her in amazement.
"Was that you? Well … Good … Good Heavens!"
Barbara laughed softly.
"Try not to forget me so quickly again! I've still to apologize for being such a beast when we met to-night. I was ill … and miserable——"
"I had no idea!" Eric cried. "And I stared at you for an hour on end—trying to count your pulse by a watch without a second-hand.… But you've changed so! I used to catch sight of you before the war——"
"I've travelled a lot since then," she interrupted. "The whole way through Purgatory to Hell."
Eric tried to remember whether the war had robbed her of any one but Jim Loring.
"Since that day you've changed so much again."
"Perhaps I'm taking a holiday from Hell. And, as you know, I'm not a good traveller."