He was looking up now and saw the intense
relief in her face. "To-day?"
"No; last time I was up here. I ought to have taken it to the house at
once but--but it was a temptation to me to keep it till I could give it
back to you like this. Do forgive me."
It was plain she divined what he meant, but her cold manner came to the
aid of her embarrassment.
"I am only too glad to have it again. I am so glad you found it."
"So am I," he responded with a touch of fervour. "I wish I could relieve
your mind of everything else as easily."
"I am sure you do," she said wistfully, and impulsively half put
out her hand.
He caught it as she was in the act of checking the action and drawing it
back. "You may be sure--quite sure, of my devotion," he said, and raised
her hand to his lips.
An exclamation and a sudden start as the hand was quickly withdrawn made
him look up. Edith Morriston's eyes were fixed with something like fear
on an object behind him. An intuition told him what it was before he
looked round to see Henshaw, with his characteristic, rather stealthy
walk, coming towards them.
Gifford set his teeth hard as the two faced round and awaited
Henshaw's approach.
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