She shook her head. He took the hand that she held out to him by way of reassurance and possession. "Then why do you look like that?" She smiled. "Kitty--that was an unconvincing smile." "Was it? I'm sorry to say there's a tiresome man coming to see me." "Say you can't see him. Send him a wire." "I must. He's coming on business. I don't _want_ to see him." "Can't I see him for you, if you feel like that?" "No, dear. He must see me." "When is he due?" "At seven-thirty." "Oh--only in the evening. How long do you think he'll stay?" Kitty hardened her face. "Not a minute longer than I can help." "An hour? Two hours?" "I shall have to give him dinner. He's--he's that sort of man." "Two hours, probably. I think I'll take Janey for a stroll while he's here. You see, I've got to tell her, and I shall tell her then." She put her hands on his shoulders. "And what will--Janey--say?" "She'll say she's glad I'm going to be happy." He became thoughtful. "And there are the children," he said. "I've got to tell them, too." She was silent. She did not ask him as he had half expected, "What will _they_ say?" "I think," he said, "I'd better send for them and let them stay here a bit. Could you stand another week of Southbourne? You said you hated it." "Yes. I hated it. I shouldn't have stayed if it hadn't been for you." "Do you mind staying a little longer now?" "I don't mind staying anywhere where you are." "Well--just a little longer." She saw the workings of his mind. The people here had been saying awful things about her. If he took her away they would continue to say them. He couldn't stop them. He couldn't for instance, go up to Colonel Hankin before leaving, and tell him that he lied, and that Mrs. Tailleur, though appearances might be against her, was as innocent a lady as Mrs. Hankin. He couldn't even announce his engagement to her by way of accounting for their simultaneous departure. They were not accountable to these people. But, if they stayed on as if nothing had happened, he could demonstrate to everybody's satisfaction that he had no other intention with regard to Mrs. Tailleur than to make her his wife and a mother to his children. That was why he was sending for them. Evidently the idea he had--poor lamb--was that he could shelter her innocence with theirs. And so she told him that she adored Southbourne now and didn't care how long they stopped there. Lucy's idea had really gone more or less on those lines, though they remained rather more obscure to him than they were to Kitty. His scheme was so far successful that there were people in the Cliff Hotel who knew about his engagement before Jane did.