The cry smote through her like joy barbed with bitterness. She shuddered and caught her breath, swayed as she stood with the arras hiding her face.
"Wife, wife."
With sudden strength, compelling herself, she peered round, and saw a figure standing in the shadow, a man with white face turned towards the light, his hands stretched out like a little child's. She stood motionless, breathing fast with short, convulsive breaths, her lips quivering beneath her veil.
"I am here," she said to him, husky, tremulous, and faint.
"Yeoland."
"Ah!"
"I hear your voice; come near to me."
She wavered forward three steps into the room, stood staring strangely at the figure by the door.
"Yeoland, are you near?"
"My God!"