Five minutes passed before Rowcliffe came to Gwenda in the study.
"Forgive me," he said. "I had a troublesome patient."
"Don't be afraid. You're not going to have another."
"Come, _you_ haven't troubled me much, anyhow. This is the first time,
isn't it?"
Yes, she thought, it was the first time. And it would be the last.
There had not been many ways of seeing Steven, but this way had always
been open to her if she had cared to take it. But it had been of all
ways the most repugnant to her, and she had never taken it till now
when she was driven to it.
"Mary tells me you're not feeling very fit."
He was utterly gentle, as he was with all sick and suffering things.
"I'm all right. That's not why I want to see you."