But Stella held him off with a gesture of her hand.
"It's nothing," she said between her sobs.

"I am foolish.

These last few days have been hot, haven't they ?" She smiled wanly, checking her tears.
"There's no reason at all," and she got up from her chair.

"I think I'll leave you for a little while.

My head aches and--and--I've no doubt I have got a red nose now." She took a step or two towards the passage into her private tent but stopped.
"I _can_ leave you to get along together alone, can't I ?" she said with her eyes on Thresk.