What she had said to Robin
Pierce she might not choose ever to say again. She would not choose ever
to say it again--of that she was certain--but she had not ceased to think
it.
A conviction based upon no evidence that could be brought forward to
convince anyone is the last thing that can be destroyed in a woman's
heart.
It was nearly six o'clock when Lady Holme heard a step coming up the
stairs. She was still sitting in the deep chair, and had scarcely moved.
The step startled her. She put her hands on the arms of the chair and
leaned forward. The step passed her bedroom. She heard the door of the
dressing-room opened and then someone moving about.
"Fritz!" she called. "Fritz!"
There was no answer. She got up and went quickly to the dressing-room.
Her husband was there in his shirt sleeves. His evening coat and
waistcoat were lying half on a chair, half on the floor, and he was in
the act of unfastening his collar. She looked into his face, trying to
read it.
"Well?" she said. "Well?"
"Go to bed!" he said brutally.
"What have you done?"
"That's my business. Go to bed. D'you hear?"
She hesitated. Then she said:
"How dare you speak to me like that? Have you seen Mr. Carey?"
Lord Holme suddenly took his wife by the shoulders; pushed her out of the
room, shut the door, and locked it.
They always slept in the same bedroom. Was he not going to bed at all?
What had happened? Lady Holme could not tell from his face or manner
anything of what had occurred.
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