The silence continued.

Down more than one face the tears were trickling, as they have trickled down millions of faces since.

Kate had crept imperceptibly nearer until her hands could have touched Richard's knees.

When Willits bent over her with a whispered comment a slight shiver ran through her, but she neither answered nor turned her head.

It was only when Richard's voice finally ceased with the loud chirp of the cricket at the close of the beloved story, and St.George had helped her to her feet, that she seemed to awake to a sense of where she was.