"Nothing, unless, indeed, you could get hot water for me to wash my feet in. Sleeping as I was, I had the good sense to put on a thick shawl, but I made my excursion barefoot: they say walking barefoot improves one's carriage."
"Bessie, I never know what to make of you."
"If you know what to make of yourself it's a great matter: sometimes people don't know that," she said, rather wearily.
"I had better make myself scarce at present, probably?" he said.
"I think so."
"Then good-night. You won't faint again?"
"No: good-night."
He left the room and shut the door gently, but when a few paces away some impulse moved him to go back: she might faint again, and he would ask if he should send one of the servants to her.
When he opened the door she was sitting with her face hidden in her hands. At the sound of the door opening she glanced up, and Edwin saw tears.
She turned away instantly. He went up to her and said, "I did not mean to intrude. I forgot to ask if I should tell one of the servants to come."