It has been a long, long, hard day.

God help me! Good night!" Then he bowed his head and slowly left the room.
Jane was astonished, but his white face, the sad, yonderly look in his eyes, and the way in which he bit his lower lip went like a knife to her heart.
She sat still, speechless, motionless.

She had not expected either his prompt denial of her position or its powerful effect on him physically.
Never before had she seen John show any symptoms of illness, and his sudden collapse of bodily endurance, his evident suffering and deliberate walk frightened her.

She feared he might have a fit and fall downstairs.

Colonel Booth had found his death in that way when he heard of his son's accident on the railway.