She had been tried beyond her strength.

Body and mind were alike exhausted.
But when strong arms suddenly encircled her and she found herself drawn close to a man's breast, quick and instinctive came the impulse to resist.

She drew back from him with a sharp exclamation.
"It's only me," said Piers.

"Surely you don't mind me!" It was naively expressed, so naively that she assayed to laugh in the midst of her woe.

"Oh, how you startled me!" was all she found to say.
"But surely you knew I was coming back!" he said.
The dogged note was in his voice.