, then, without raising his eyes,
said good-night, and, entering his bedroom, closed the door.

As Selwyn passed back along the corridor, the door of his sister's room
opened, and Austin and Nina confronted him.

"Has that damfool boy come in?" demanded his brother-in-law, anxiety
making his voice tremulous under its tone of contempt.

"Yes. Leave him to me, please. Good-night"--submitting to a tender
embrace from his sister--"I suppose Eileen has retired, hasn't she? It's
an ungodly hour--almost sunrise."

"I don't know whether Eileen is asleep," said Nina; "she expected a word
with you, I understand. But don't sit up--don't let her sit up late.
We'll be a company of dreadful wrecks at breakfast, anyway."

And his sister gently closed the door while he continued on to the end
of the corridor and halted before Eileen's room. A light came through
the transom; he waited a moment, then knocked very softly.

"Is it you?" she asked in a low voice.

"Yes. I didn't wake you, did I?"

"No. Is Gerald here?"

"Yes, in his own room. . . . Did you wish to speak to me about
anything?"

"Yes."

He heard her coming to the door; it opened a very little. "Good-night,"
she whispered, stretching toward him her hand--"that was all I
wanted--to--to touch you before I closed my eyes to-night."

He bent and looked at the hand lying within his own--the little hand
with its fresh fragrant palm upturned and the white fingers relaxed,
drooping inward above it--at the delicate bluish vein in the smooth
wrist.

Then he released the hand, untouched by his lips; and she withdrew it
and closed the door; and he heard her laugh softly, and lean against it,
whispering:

"Now that I am safely locked in--I merely wish to say that--in the old
days--a lady's hand was sometimes--kissed. . . . Oh, but you are too
late, my poor friend! I can't come out; and I wouldn't if I could--not
after what I dared to say to you. . . . In fact, I shall probably remain
locked up here for days and days. . . . Besides, what I said is out of
fashion--has no significance nowadays--or, perhaps, too much. . . . No,
I won't dress and come out--even for you. _Je me deshabille--je fais ma
toilette de nuit, monsieur--et je vais maintenant m'agenouiller et faire
ma priere. Donc--bon soir--et bonne nuit_--"

And, too low for him to hear even the faintest breathing whisper of her
voice--"Good-night. I love you with all my heart--with all my heart--in
my own fashion."