"What is it ?" she asked, impatiently.
"Madelon, kiss me once." "I can't--I can't! Don't ask that of me, Lot." "Madelon, once!" Madelon bent over him, keeping her body stiffly aloof, and kissed him on his hollow forehead.

Lot closed his eyes and smiled like a contented child; then suddenly he opened them upon Madelon, and the look in them was not a child's.

She shrank away with a strong shudder, flushing with anger and shame, and made resolutely for the door again.

She looked back and spoke out sharply to him, with her hand on the latch: "Mind you do not say one word about--what I said I'd do, until the last." Then she went out, flinging to the door quickly lest she hear Lot's voice again.
When she got home there was no one there.

Eugene had not returned.
She went about preparing dinner as usual; it was on the table when the men, all except Eugene, came home, and none of them dreamed she had left the house.