But a motor bike passed and cut them off from him, he only heard the front door crash as they shut it. Someone to see Mamma, well, that would make her very happy. But he was forgotten up here, he was only allowed the echoes of all that was going on, and he saw himself waiting and listening here for the rest of his life. No one cared whether he was blind or not. But there were steps outside, it was Margaret, she minded, and he would fascinate her so that she minded all the more. There was a knock on the door, her knock, and she slipped in on a gust of cool air from the marble hall, and there was something cool about her as well, waves of gentleness breaking round him. Every time she came he was surprised at her quietness. She was so deft, but then she had been a lady’s-maid. Her skirt touched his foot so lightly. “I’m just going out, Mr. Haye, and I thought I’d look in to see if I could find you anything.” “Take me out.” “Mrs. Haye just said she would do that herself, she won’t be long now.” To be taken out! He was in everyone’s way. And why shouldn’t he go with Margaret? Now he would have to wait till that visitor had gone. “Are you comfortable in that chair, Mr. Haye?” and her hand arranged the handkerchief in his breast pocket. She was listless to-day, her thoughts were elsewhere. And she had scented herself, the first time she had ever done that since he had known her. It was very, very faint, but you could just tell it if you were near her. Perhaps it was meant for someone who would be nearer. He would be. He searched round his handkerchief for her hand. “But your hand is burning. Well, I never,” and hers had escaped; “I must be going.” “Could you pull the blind down and shut the window, the noise is so frightful?” The blind ran down and he thought of how to detain her. The window shut and the world became muffled. “Oh, and this lily here, could you move it?” She tugged, but the stand that held it was heavy, and her breathing grew deeper at the effort. “Let me help. There is nothing in the way, is there?” “I can do it; don’t get up, Mr. Haye.”