"Wait for me in that room." She pointed to the door that led into the dining-room.

Julian hesitated.
"You promise to let me know it if I can be of the smallest service to you ?" he said.
"Yes, yes!" She followed him as he withdrew, and added, rapidly, in a whisper, "Leave the door ajar!" He made no answer.

As she returned to Horace he entered the dining-room.
The one concession he could make to her he did make.

He closed the door so noiselessly that not even her quick hearing could detect that he had shut it.
Mercy spoke to Horace, without waiting to let him speak first.
"I have promised you an explanation of my conduct," she said, in accents that trembled a little in spite of herself.

"I am ready to perform my promise." "I have a question to ask you before you do that," he rejoined.