“Yes,” said Katherine again.

“What I feel so badly about is this. I have deceived my father⁠—it was he who came to see me off at Victoria today. He wishes me to divorce my husband, and, of course, he has no idea⁠—that I am going to meet this other man. He would think it extraordinarily foolish.”

“Well, don’t you think it is?”

“I⁠—I suppose it is.”

Ruth Kettering looked down at her hands; they were shaking violently.

“But I can’t draw back now.”

“Why not?”

“I⁠—it is all arranged, and it would break his heart.”

“Don’t you believe it,” said Katherine robustly; “hearts are pretty tough.”