But Mr.Carter had not yet returned.

What was to be done?
He could not wait there; there was no time to be lost; there was only one other person who knew his expectations, and to whom he could confide his failure--it was Kitty.

It was to taste the dregs of his humiliation, but it must be done.

He ran up the staircase and knocked timidly at the sitting-room door.

There was a momentary pause, and a weak voice said "Come in." Barker opened the door; saw the vision of a handkerchief thrown away, of a pair of tearful eyes that suddenly changed to stony indifference, and a graceful but stiffening figure.