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out into the bleak darkness. It seemed more terrible now
that he was with his friends than when he was outside and
alone. He kept on saying to himself that there were plenty
more who would be spending the night out of doors. He
strove to distract his mind by talking, but in the middle of
his words a spatter of rain against the window would make
him start.
‘It’s like March weather,’ said Athelny. ‘Not the sort of
day one would like to be crossing the Channel.’
Presently they finished, and Sally came in and cleared
away.
‘Would you like a twopenny stinker?’ said Athelny, hand-
ing him a cigar.
Philip took it and inhaled the smoke with delight. It
soothed him extraordinarily. When Sally had finished
Athelny told her to shut the door after her.
‘Now we shan’t be disturbed,’ he said, turning to Philip.
‘I’ve arranged with Betty not to let the children come in till
I call them.’
Philip gave him a startled look, but before he could take
in the meaning of his words, Athelny, fixing his glasses on
his nose with the gesture habitual to him, went on.
‘I wrote to you last Sunday to ask if anything was the
matter with you, and as you didn’t answer I went to your
rooms on Wednesday.’
Philip turned his head away and did not answer. His
heart began to beat violently. Athelny did not speak, and
presently the silence seemed intolerable to Philip. He could
not think of a single word to say.