She met him at her own door, fully dressed.
"My dear Leonard!" she exclaimed, in surprise.

"What an early caller!" "I want a few words with you," he said.

"Can you spare me five minutes ?" "You must walk with me to the theatre," she replied, "I am just off to rehearsal." They descended the stairs together.
"I have something to tell you," Tavernake began, "something to tell you which you won't like to hear." "Something which I won't like to hear," she repeated, fearfully.

"Go on, Leonard.

It can't be worse than it sounds." "I don't know why I've come to tell you," he went on.