Because of the graveness of their situation, love had to stand aside.
"Sisily, why did you go away ?" he asked at length.
She did not immediately reply, but lowered her glance as though collecting her thoughts.

His look fastened with anxious scrutiny on her downcast face.

She did not raise her eyes as she answered.
"I had to go, Charles," was all she said.
"Why did you not tell me, Sisily ?" he said in a tone of reproach.

"Why did you not let me know, that last day on the cliffs ?" He failed to understand the glance she cast at him as he asked these questions, but it seemed to contain an element of surprise, almost astonishment.

Absorbed in his own gloomy thoughts, he went on.
"Do you remember what you told me about your mother's old nurse, and our memory pictures of her name?
I thought you had gone there.