Still she watched--
watched every movement of those two--every smile, every gesture; and
when Caillaud went out of the room, perhaps to fetch something, she
watched with increasing and self-forgetting intensity. She had not
heard footsteps approaching. The wind had risen; the storm was ever
fiercer and fiercer, and the feverish energy which poured itself into
her eyes had drained and deadened every other sense.
"Well, my good woman, what do you want?"
She turned with a start, and it was the Major!
"Mrs. Coleman! Good God! what are you doing here? You are soaked.
Why don't you come in?"
"Oh no, Major Maitland indeed I cannot. I--I had been out, and I had
just stopped a moment. I didn't know it was going to rain."
"But I say you are dripping. Come in and see you husband; he will go
with you."
"Oh no, Major, please don't; please don't mention it to him; oh no,
please don't; he would be very vexed. I shall be all right; I will
go on at once and dry myself."
"You cannot go alone. I will see you as far as your house. Here,
take my coat and put it over your shoulders."
The Major took off a heavy cloak with capes, wrapped it round her,
drew her arm through his, and they went to her lodgings.
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