It came to me like a cold douche.

I remembered that I had been--was still--a soldier.

I remembered that my word was pledged to certain undertakings, and that after all I was fighting on her side.

The momentary depression passed away.

I found myself able to talk more lightly, until something of the old gayety came back to her also.
"Tell me," she said, as at last we rose to vacate our places,--"you spoke the other day of going down into the country." "I am not leaving London just yet," I said decidedly.
If I had indeed made some great sacrifice, I should have been rewarded by the brilliant look which she flashed up at me.