There could be only one reason for her sudden unexplained and secret flight.

He had told her that Feversham had wandered south from Wadi Halfa into the savage country; he had spoken out his fears as to Feversham's fate without reserve, thinking that she had forgotten him, and indeed rather inclined to blame her for the callous indifference with which she received the news.

The callousness was a mere mask, and she had fled because she no longer had the strength to hold it up before her face.

His first suspicions had been right.
Feversham still stood between Ethne and himself and held them at arm's length.
"She ran as though she was in great trouble and hardly knew what she was doing," Mrs.Adair continued.

"Did you cause that trouble ?" "Yes." "I thought so, from what I heard you say." Mrs.Adair wanted to hurt, and in spite of Durrance's impenetrable face, she felt that she had succeeded.