She went back to her chair.

Again shame and sorrow overpowered her, and again she hid her face from view.
Julian led Horace to a seat, and silently waited by him until he had recovered his self-control.

He gratefully took the kind hand that had sustained him: he said, simply, almost boyishly, "Thank you, Julian.

I am better now." "Are you composed enough to listen to what is said to you ?" Julian asked.
"Yes.

Do _you_ wish to speak to me ?" Julian left him without immediately replying, and returned to Mercy.
"The time has come," he said.