She accompanied him to the door. "If you should see Mr. Granger, or write to him," she said, with some confusion, "don't mention why I came here. I am ashamed of it."
"Oh! you needn't feel so," he replied soothingly. "We have had a nice little adventure to pay us for the journey; and you were breaking your heart with inaction and anxiety."
"Women should break their hearts at home!" she said proudly, her cheeks glowing scarlet.
That was Wednesday. Thursday morning, as she rose from a five o'clock breakfast to go over to the hospital, a carriage stopped at the door, and, looking out, she saw Mr. Lewis coming up the walk.
O God! The blow had fallen! No need even to look into his white and smileless face to know that.
He stopped, and spoke through the open window. "Come, Margaret!"
Morning, was it? Morning! She could hardly see to reach the carriage, and the earth seemed to be heaving under her feet.
As they drove through that strange, feverish world that the sunny summer day had all at once turned into, she heard a long, heavy breath that was almost a groan. "O dear!" said Mr. Lewis.
She reached out her hand to him, as one reaches out in the dark for support. "Tell me!"