He drew her hands from about his neck, kissing them wildly. Her hold tightened instinctively upon his fingers, and she was trembling very much. “You’re not going--now?” she whispered. “Yes,” he answered hoarsely. “Now!” Then, as he saw the look which came over her face, the desperate necessity for reassuring her came upon him. He tried to smile. “America is nothing nowadays, you know,” he said in a harsh, unnatural tone. “It’s no distance. I shall be--back directly. Say good-bye to me, won’t you? I must go.” She let her face fall on his shoulder, pressing it closer and closer, as though she could never tear herself away. “I’m frightened for you, dear,” she said. “I’m frightened. Are you sure, sure, there is nothing--wrong?” “Quite sure--of course.” “You will be back soon?” “Quite soon.” There was a moment’s quivering silence, and then Clemence slowly lifted her face. He took her in his arms again, and their lips met in one long agonised kiss. Neither spoke again. When he released her, Julian, with a face like death, turned and went away down the street, his head bent, his whole figure tense as though he were facing a blinding wind. Clemence stood for a moment still as a statue, her eyes wide, her face quite quiet. Then she too went away through the night. CHAPTER XII Over the country about Henley, that same day, the sun was shining gloriously. It was about five o’clock in the afternoon, and there was a clearness about the light, a distinctness about the shadows, which, taken in conjunction with the heavy bank of clouds into which the sun would presently sink, argued coming rain. For the present, however, nature was lovely to look at; and a garden-party which was going on in the large, old-fashioned garden of a large, old-fashioned country house, about a mile from the river, had the benefit of every advantage which atmosphere and surroundings could give. It was a large party, and the scene was very bright and animated. On the larger of the two lawns, conspicuous among the well-dressed but by no means striking-looking women about her, stood Mrs. Romayne, talking to a local magnate.