I'm not a bit afraid." Lucas began to smile.

"I think it's rather hard on Bertie," he said.
"However--" "I must go, Lucas," Bertie said quickly.

"You don't understand.

There is something I want to explain." But Lucas leaned a hand upon his shoulder.

"Let it keep, dear fellow.
There is always tomorrow!" "No, never, never, never!" whispered Dot to her turbulent heart.
Yet when a moment later Bertie came forward, and silently, without looking at her, held open the door, a wild regret surged fiercely through her, and for that second she almost wished that she had let him go with her.
And then again there came to her that hateful whisper--that taunting, intolerable sneer; and she fled without a backward glance.
Bertie closed the great door very quietly, and turned back into the hall.
"Where is Nap ?" "Come here, Bertie," Lucas said.
He went unwillingly.