"To-night is past." "But Hellier Crescent?
What happened after--after-- ?" Again he made a soothing movement.
"You must not think of it.

They gathered round me.

They were generous.
They heaped coals of fire." Enid lay silent, conscious with a keen yet poignant pleasure of his hand upon her face.

Then suddenly a new thought obtruded itself, and drawing away his fingers, she looked up into his face.
"And after to-night-- ?" she said, in a low, unsteady voice.
For a moment he did not answer, and in the soft light it seemed to her that a shadow of pain passed over his face.
Again she put out her hand and touched his.
"What are you going to do ?" she asked, below her breath.
At last he raised his head and looked fully at her.
"I am going back to the East.

The hardest task of my life is awaiting me there.