“Don’t, Wolf! Not now, Wolf! I want your help⁠ ⁠… don’t you understand? I don’t want that now.”

He sighed heavily, but let her go, and stood by her side, clutching the bannisters.

“What’s the matter, Chris?” he murmured humbly.

“Olwen wants to stay with me⁠ ⁠… to live with me⁠ ⁠… you knew that, didn’t you? But this morning she’s been fretting about Mattie. Ever since she woke up she’s been fretting. And now she says she’ll be quite happy with me again if only she can go to the wedding and see them married! She wants to go tonight , Wolf. That’s what she wants⁠ ⁠… to have a last night with Mattie⁠ ⁠… and come back here when they leave for Weymouth; but, you see, I had no way of reaching Darnley. Is Darnley at school today, Wolf? I don’t know what I should have done if you hadn’t⁠—”