'I can't, I can't conceive such a position. Surely that alone is
almost as frantic as it is heartless! Is it, is it even right?'

'Well, I have not actually asked it. I own,' he added moodily,
almost under his breath, 'it would be--dangerous.... But there,
Sheila, this poor old mask of mine is wearing out. I am somehow
convinced of that. What will be left, God only knows. You were
saying--' He rose abruptly. 'Please, please sit down,' he said;
'I did not notice you were standing.'

'I shall not keep you a moment,' she answered hurriedly; 'I will
sit here. The truth is, Arthur,' she began again almost solemnly,
'apart from all sentiment and--and good intentions, my presence
here only harasses you and keeps you back. I am not so bound up
in myself that I cannot realise THAT. The consequence is that
after calmly--and I hope considerately--thinking the whole thing
over, I have come to the conclusion that it would arouse very
little comment, the least possible perhaps in the circumstances,
if I just went away for a few days. You are not in any sense ill.
In fact, I have never known you so--so robust, so energetic. You
will be alone: Mr Bethany, perhaps.... You could go out and come
in just as you pleased. Possibly,' Sheila smiled frankly beneath
her veil, 'even this Dr Ferguson you have invented will be a
help. It's only the servants that remain to be considered.'

'I should prefer to be quite alone.'

'Then do not worry about THEM. I can easily explain. And if you
would not mind letting her in, Mrs Gull can come in every other