Jaffery put his arm round my shoulders and hugged me kindly.
"Go and get warm," said he.
"But this ?" I pointed to the litter.
"I'll see to it and join you in a minute." He pushed me outside the door and I went into the drawing-room, where I crouched before a blazing fire with chattering teeth and benumbed feet and hands.

I was alone.

Doria had taken a faint turn for the better that morning and Barbara had run down to Northlands for the day.

It was just as well she had gone, I thought.

I should have a few hours to compose some story in mitigation of the tragedy.
Soon Jaffery returned with a glass of brandy, which I drank.