She shook her head.
'No, I can't do that. I must have complete freedom.'
'And when I come back?'
She smiled delightfully.
'When you come back, if you still care, ask me again.'
'And the answer?'
'The answer perhaps will be different.'
VIII
A week later Alec MacKenzie and George Allerton started from Charing Cross. They were to go by P. & O. from Marseilles to Aden, and there catch a German boat which would take them to Mombassa. Lady Kelsey was far too distressed to see her nephew off; and Lucy was glad, since it gave her the chance of driving to the station alone with George. She found Dick Lomas and Mrs. Crowley already there. When the train steamed away, Lucy was standing a little apart from the others. She was quite still. She did not even wave her hand, and there was little expression on her face. Mrs. Crowley was crying cheerfully, and she dried her eyes with a tiny handkerchief. Lucy turned to her and thanked her for coming.
'Shall I drive you back in the carriage?' sobbed Mrs. Crowley.