The change came, sure, swift and cruel.

As she looked, it came, gradual, in that it passed through every degree, but sudden also, as the fall of a fair and mighty building, which being undermined in its foundations passes in one short minute through the change from perfect completeness to hopeless and utter ruin.
All the radiance, all the light, all the glory were gone in an instant.
Her own supremely loving look had not vanished, her lips still parted sweetly, as forming the word that was to answer his, and the calm indifferent face of the waking man was already before her.
"What is it ?" he asked, in his kind and passionless voice.

"What were you going to ask me, Unorna ?" It was gone.

The terribly earnest appeal had been in vain.

Not a trace of that short vision of love remained impressed upon his brain.
With a smothered cry of agony Unorna leaned against the great slab of stone behind her and covered her eyes.