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 never explained." She looked full at him for a moment and he knew that this was the first time she had uttered her husband's name. It would be easier now.

"He had told me everything," he said quickly, as though to intercept the shutting of a door. "I was always to be there if you should need me—I had promised him." She must realise that she owed him nothing for the fulfilment of a duty. He thought she did, for she was silent, uttering no word of thanks.

"Why did you so seldom come and see us?" she asked suddenly. "Howard had begun to notice lately, and he wondered."

"I was in India."

"Before you went to India." A little inflection in her voice made him despise his evasion.

"There is a time for all things, and that was a time for keeping away."

"Because he was married?"

Stuart did not answer.

"We wanted you," she said, "but you didn't understand, did you?"

She did not understand, how could she?