Ittriedmetothequicktorefuseher，eveninherowninterests。Butwehadbeentoolongshutupalonetogetheralready。Ourchanceofseeingeachotheragainmightentirelydependonournotexcitinganyfreshsuspicions。
Itwasfulltimetoshowmyself，quietlyandunconcernedly，amongthewretcheswhowereatthatverymoment，perhaps，thinkingofusandtalkingofusdownstairs。IexplainedthemiserablenecessitytoLaura，andprevailedonhertorecogniseitasIdid。
`lwillcomebackagain，love，inanhourorless，’Isaid。`Theworstisoverfortoday。Keepyourselfquietandfearnothing。’
`Isthekeyinthedoor，Marian？CanIlockitontheinside？’
`Yes，hereisthekey。Lockthedoor，andopenittonobodyuntilI