," she said. "How are you! You
don't look well!"

"I'm tired ... but I shall be all right presently. I'll just go upstairs
now!..."

He left her hurriedly, for Mary was anxious to tell her mother of their
betrothal, and he wished her to know as quickly as possible. He dallied
in his room so that she might have plenty of time in which to learn
Mary's news. He sat on the wide window-seat and let his mind roam over
his memories. It was in this room that he had first told himself that he
loved Mary ... it was at this very window he had stood while he resolved
that he would marry Sheila Morgan, and again had considered what Ninian
and Gilbert had said about men who marry out of their class. Almost he
expected to hear the door opening as Gilbert walked in, just as he had
done then....

"It's no good mooning like this," he said to himself, and then he went
downstairs again.

Mary was sitting beside her mother, holding her hand, and as he entered
she turned to look at him, and smiled so that he knew what he must do,
and so, without hesitation, he crossed the room to Mrs. Graham and
kissed her.

"I'm very glad, Henry!" she said. "Sit down here!"

She moved so that he could sit beside her, and when he had settled
himself, she put her hand on his shoulder. "It's nice to have you back
again," she said.

They spent the time until dinner in desultory talk that sometimes lapsed
into lengthy silence. A high wind was blowing up from the sea, and when
they had dined, they drew their chairs close to the fire, and sat
quietly in the warmth of it. They could hear the heavy rustle of the
leaves as the trees swayed in the wind, and now and then raindrops fell
down the chimney and sizzled in the hot coals. The lamps were left
unlit, and the firelight made long shadows round the room, flickering
over the old polished furniture and the silverware and the dim
portraits of dead Grahams....

Mary moved from her chair and, placing a cushion on the floor between
Henry and her mother, she sat down and leant her head against him. He
bent forward slightly, and placed his hand on her shoulder, and as he
did so, she put hers up and took hold of it and so they sat in exquisite
peace and quietness until the rising wind, gathering itself together in
greater strength, flung itself heavily on the house and shook it
roughly. In the lull, they could hear the rain beating sharply on the
windows ... and as they listened to the noise of the storm, their