Was it the manager who had knocked?
He called out, 'Who is there ?' The voice of Agnes answered him.

'Have you anything to tell me, Henry ?' He was hardly able to reply.

'Not just now,' he said, confusedly.
'Forgive me if I don't open the door.

I will speak to you a little later.' The sweet voice made itself heard again, pleading with him piteously.
'Don't leave me alone, Henry! I can't go back to the happy people downstairs.' How could he resist that appeal?
He heard her sigh--he heard the rustling of her dress as she moved away in despair.

The very thing that he had shrunk from doing but a few minutes since was the thing that he did now! He joined Agnes in the corridor.