Mrs. Mundy, who had been told of their coming, opened the door for them in dressing-gown and slippers, and piloted them up-stairs and into my sitting-room, where Madeleine, at sight of Selwyn, burst into tears and buried her face on my shoulder.  But the ten minutes were not entirely lost which passed before we understood why the venture had been decided upon at this particular time, and how hard luck had prevented its fulfilment.  Tears are effective.  Selwyn weakened as rapidly as I could have wished.

“I haven’t seen Harrie for two weeks.  Ever since I’ve been here he’s been writing me he was sick.”  Madeleine’s words came stumblingly, and the corners of her handkerchief were pulled with nervous movements in between the wiping of her pretty brown eyes.  “The day after Christmas I wrote him, breaking our engagement.  I’ve never heard from him since.  I don’t even know that he got my letter.”  Questioningly she looked at Selwyn, and her face, already colored, crimsoned yet more deeply.

“Neither do I.”  Selwyn’s voice was gentle.  Indignation at his and my involvement in what was not an affair of ours seemed to have vanished.  “I redirected a number of letters to his new address, but—­”

“His new address?” Madeleine looked puzzled.  “I didn’t know he had a new address.”

“He is not living at home just now.”  The flush in Selwyn’s face deepened also.  “I have not seen him since Christmas day.  But go on.  I did not mean to interrupt you.”

“Three days ago Madeleine told her mother she’d broken with Harrie and was going to marry me.”  Tom was no longer to be repressed.  “She’s had the devil of a time ever since, and yesterday I told her she shouldn’t stand it any longer, and neither would I. Harrie has hypnotized her mother.  She thinks—­”

“I’m unkind and unsympathetic and hard and cruel to give him up because he is not well.  It isn’t that.  You know it isn’t that—­” Madeleine’s fingers twisted in appeal and again her eyes were on Selwyn.  “You think it’s dreadful in me not to marry your brother—­”

“No, I don’t.  I think it would be much more dreadful in you if you did marry him.”  Selwyn’s hands made gesture.  “However, we’ll leave that out.  You say you told your mother you intended to marry Tom?”

Handkerchief to her lips, she nodded.  “I told her, and Tom wrote her, asking her consent.  She wouldn’t give it, and said I was ungrateful and had no ambition, and that if she had a stroke I’d be the cause.  She’s never had a stroke and is very healthy, but—­”

Bursting into fresh tears, Madeleine this time hid her face in her hands, and Tom, wanting much to comfort, miserably ignorant of how to do it, and consciously awkward and restrained in the presence of witnesses, stood by her side, his hand on her shoulder, and at sight of him I reached swift decision.

“I’m glad you told her.  You’ve been open and square and asked her consent.  One can’t wait indefinitely for consent to do things.”  I got up and took Madeleine by the hand.  “Come in my room and take off your hat and coat.  When we come back we’ll talk about what is best to do.”