“You have come to meet me? I never dreamed—”
“Of course not,” she said with a smile. “Your sex never does. Did you think I could receive you at Redcliffe Gardens? Your name is anathema there. I am only allowed on sufferance. I could not bear you to be denied the door. Besides, I wanted to see you. So I came.”
“And you have been waiting all this time? Men are brutes, Irene. I did not think of it. Forgive me.”
“For what? For your anxiety to serve me? You were coming straight to me after a twenty-four hours’ journey, without stopping to wash your hands or take food. That needs no forgiveness.”
They had been standing at the spot where they had met. He looked anxiously into her face. It was singularly calm and tender, though the eyes were a little weary, and the past month had brought lines about the corners of the delicate mouth. Wonder was mingled with his feelings of relief, for he had expected to find a woman broken down with trouble. Then his phrase about the dull category of common women crossed his mind, and he smiled.
“Where shall we talk, Irene?” he said, with a man’s helplessness.
“Are you going to Sunnington?”
“No. It is too far. I am putting up at the hotel.”
“Let us go there,” she said, turning, with prompt decision..
“Will it be wise?” said Hugh.