Their conversation ceased perforce with the return of Mills into the room.
Then the wonderful thing happened.

The windows of the dining room faced the drive to the house and both women could clearly see a motor car turn in at the gate and stop at the front door.

It was obviously a hired car, as the driver was not in livery, but the tall, mulled-up figure in unfamiliar clothes who occupied the front seat was for the moment a mystery to them.

Only Helen seemed to have some wonderful premonition of the truth, a premonition which she was afraid to admit even to herself.
Her hand began to shake.

Philippa looked at her in amazement.
"You look as though you had seen a ghost, Helen!" she exclaimed.