Page:Dark Hester.djvu/264

Everything is changed. And, after I had slept, when I woke just now and remembered you, I knew that I must see you.’

He had dropped his hand and was looking over at her, his dark brows brooding, still in perplexity, above his hot pale eyes; and, looking her assurance at him, she went on: ‘We were meant to meet like this, with nothing before us, and everything between us. We have nothing to hide now. We know each other for ever.’

He said nothing, but presently he got up and walked to and fro, his hands behind him. ‘Are you friends with Hester?’ he asked at length.

‘Friends? I don’t know. But I understand why you and Clive loved her.’

‘I am glad of that,’ said Ingpen. He continued to walk to and fro. ‘Then I can tell you everything. I would like to give you the history of everything, if that’s what you mean I may do. You are being so beautiful to me;—but I don’t want to take advantage—and force things on you. Only I would like to do Hester one good turn, for all the ill ones.’

‘I want to hear everything that you care to tell me.’

‘I met her in Paris,’ said Ingpen, ‘at the end of the