He felt his limbs beginning to tremble.

"I've been waiting to tell you when we were alone," she added in an awkward tone.

And still staring up at her he felt a rush of tenderness and a pang of deep remorse.

Laura in love and settled for life! And what did he know of the affair?
What had he ever done for her?
Too late! He had begun too late! And this rush of emotion was so overpowering that while he still looked at her blindly she was the first to recover her poise.

She came around the table and kissed him softly on the cheek.