Waymark touched her hair caressingly, then freed his other hand, and went from the room.
Maud sat in thought till a loud ring at the door-bell made her start and flee upstairs.

The room in which she and Waymark sat when they were by themselves was in no danger of invasion, but she feared the possibility of meeting her mother to-night.

Her father was away from home, as usual, but the days of his return were always uncertain, and Mrs.Enderby might perchance open the door of the little sitting-room just to see whether he was there, as it was here he ordinarily employed himself when in the house.

From her bedroom Maud could hear several people ascend the stairs.

It was ten o'clock, but an influx of visitors at such an hour was nothing remarkable.