She found Piet waiting for her when she came out, and she passed forth
with him to the waiting motor with a laugh and a jest for the benefit of
the onlookers.
But the moment the door closed upon them she fell into silence, drawn
back from him as far as possible, her cold hands clenched tight under her
cloak.
He did not attempt to speak to her during the quarter of an hour's drive,
sitting mutely beside her in statuesque stillness; and it was she who,
when he handed her out, broke the silence.
"I have something to say to you."
He bent before her stiffly.
"I am at your service."
There was something in his words that sounded ironical to her, something
that sent the blood to her face in a burning wave. She turned in silence
and ascended the steps in front of him.
She found the door unlocked, but the hall was empty, and lighted only by
the great flames that spouted up from the log-fire on the open hearth.
Clearly the rest of the family had retired, and a sudden, sharp suspicion
flashed through Nan that her husband had deliberately laid his plans for
this private interview with her.
It set her heart pounding again within her, but she braced herself to
treat him with a high hand. He must not, he should not, assume the
mastery over her.
Silently she waited as he shut and bolted the great door, and then
quietly crossed the shadowy hall to join her.
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