D'you know I feel sometimes
that I couldn't bear to die and cease to see beautiful things about me?"
"It would certainly be very dull to die before they have discovered
whether there is life in Mars," Miss Allan added.
"Do you really believe there's life in Mars?" asked Mrs. Flushing,
turning to her for the first time with keen interest. "Who tells you
that? Some one who knows? D'you know a man called--?"
Here Mrs. Thornbury laid down her knitting, and a look of extreme
solicitude came into her eyes.
"There is Mr. Hirst," she said quietly.
St. John had just come through the swing door. He was rather blown
about by the wind, and his cheeks looked terribly pale, unshorn, and
cavernous. After taking off his coat he was going to pass straight
through the hall and up to his room, but he could not ignore the
presence of so many people he knew, especially as Mrs. Thornbury rose
and went up to him, holding out her hand. But the shock of the warm
lamp-lit room, together with the sight of so many cheerful human beings
sitting together at their ease, after the dark walk in the rain, and the
long days of strain and horror, overcame him completely. He looked at
Mrs. Thornbury and could not speak.
Every one was silent. Mr. Pepper's hand stayed upon his Knight. Mrs.
Thornbury somehow moved him to a chair, sat herself beside him, and with
tears in her own eyes said gently, "You have done everything for your
friend.
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