that she would have told the truth. But though fear for her was over now there was much bitterness in him, or he would not have answered Tempest so. He was coming to believe that she would be more difficult to persuade than he had even expected, and his face was hard with anxiety when he went at last out of the dimly-lighted streets and walked up to Jennifer's hotel.
Slicker opened the door of her private sitting-room when he knocked on it. The strain had told on the boy severely; but anger flamed into his face at the sight of Dick. He would have shut the door if Dick's foot had not been in the way.
"Is she there—alone?" said Dick.
"Yes. But you're not to see her, you cad."
Dick's hand brushed Slicker aside.
"Stay outside," he said only, and went in, shutting the door behind him.
Slicker stood still on the mat with the colour dying from his face. Boy though he yet was in experience and understanding, he felt those charged forces in the man with which he dared not meddle. Then he went away, a little dazed, and with a curious feeling of awe.
The little hotel parlour was as unlike Jennifer's pretty rooms at home as anything could be. But Dick saw nothing but the white-gowned girl in the big chair by the window. She turned her head to watch him cross the room; but neither spoke, and she did not lift the head from where the bare arm propped it on the window-sill. The night was very hot, and her face had no colour at all, though there was a faint smile on her lips as she looked at his scarlet uniform and at the gentle deference which she knew would not hold him long.
"You were right when you said you would hurt me," she said.
"And I was right when I said that would not end it. You understood, or you would not be speaking to me now." He sat on the window-sill with the dark of a closed shop behind him. "Never mind all that now, Jennifer. It is over. What pretty arms you have. I never saw them uncovered before."
She drew them back hurriedly under the falling laces.
