"Oh! they don't count."
"Thank you, Joyce."
She held out a pacifying hand. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be ungracious. But those women—— You know, you get rather attached to people when you've spoken and fought and been imprisoned side by side with them. I always feel rather mean; any one of them 'ud die for me, and I'm not at all sure I'd do the same for them. Everything's been different since Elsie got her freedom; it's easier to fight for a person than a principle."
"Are you weakening?"
"Heavens! No! I'm just showing you I should be honour-bound to stand by my fellows even if I lost all faith in the cause. I say, don't go on smoking cigarettes; ring the bell and make Dick give you a cigar. He's in the house somewhere. I heard him come in a few minutes ago."
"I came to see you," I pointed out.
"But I'm dreadfully poor company to-night."
"I take you as I find you, in sickness and health, weal and woe——"
"Mr. Merivale!"
Her voice was very stern.