When Doris awoke in response to her deferential knock, only the reticence of the trained servant greeted her.  The motherliness of the night before had completely vanished.

Doris was glad of it.  She had to steel herself for the coming interview with Caryl; she had to face the result of her headlong actions with as firm a front as she could assume.  She needed all her strength, and she could not have borne sympathy just then.

She thanked Mrs. Maynard for her attentions and saw her withdraw with relief.  Then, having nibbled very half-heartedly at the breakfast provided, she arose with a great sigh, and began to prepare for whatever might lie before her.

Dressed at length, she sat down by the open window to wait—­and wonder.

The click of the garden gate fell suddenly across her meditations, and she drew back sharply out of sight.  He was entering.

She heard his leisurely footfall on the tiles and then his quiet voice below.  Her heart began to thump with thick, uncertain beats.  She was horribly afraid.

Yet when she heard the old woman ascending the stairs, she had the courage to go to the door and open it.

Mr. Caryl was in the parlour, she was told.  He would be glad to see her at her convenience.

“I will go to him,” she said, and forthwith descended to meet her fate.

He stood by the window when she entered, but wheeled round at once with his back to the light.  She felt that this did not make much difference.  She knew exactly how he was looking—­cold, self-contained, implacable as granite.  She had seldom seen him look otherwise.  His face was a perpetual mask to her.  It was this very inscrutability of his that had first waked in her the desire to see him among her retinue of slaves.

She went forward slowly, striving to attain at least a semblance of composure.  At first it seemed that he would wait for her where he was; then unexpectedly he moved to meet her.  He took her hand into his own, and she shrank a little involuntarily.  His touch unnerved her.

“You have slept?” he asked.  “You are better?”

Something in his tone made her glance upwards, catching her breath.  But she decided instantly that she had been mistaken.  He would not, he could not, mean to be kind at such a moment.

She made answer with an assumption of pride.  She dared not let herself be natural just then.

“I am quite well.  There was nothing wrong with me last night.  I was only tired.”

He suffered her hand to slip from his.

“I wonder what you think of doing,” he said quietly.  “Have you made any plans?”

The hot blood rushed to her face before she was aware of it.  She turned it sharply aside.

“Am I to have a voice in the matter?” she said, her voice very low.  “You did not think it worth while to consult me last night.”

“You were scarcely in a fit state to be consulted,” he answered gravely.  “That is why I postponed the discussion.  But I was then—­as I am now—­entirely at your disposal.  I will take you back to your people at once if you wish it.”