And now--twin boys, and all London smiling!
Again she looked at Baroudi. The fervent and melancholy music was rising towards a climax. It caught hold of her now, had her in a grip, swept her onwards. When it ceased, she felt as if she had been carried away from "London," and from those old ambitions and hopes for ever.
Baroudi's great eyes were upon her, and seemed to read her thoughts; and now for the first time she felt uneasy under their resolute gaze, felt the desire, almost the necessity to escape from it and to be unwatched.
"Have you had enough of the music, Nigel?" she said to her husband, as the musicians lifted their chins from their instruments, and let their arms drop down.
He started.
"What, Ruby? By Jove, they do play well!"
There was a look in his eyes almost as of one coming back from a long and dark journey underground into the light of day. That music had taken him back to the side of the girl whom he had loved, and who had died so long ago. Now he looked at the woman who was living, and to whom the great power to love which was within him was being directed, on whom it was being concentrated.
"Do you mind if we go home?" she said.
"You have had enough of it already?"
"No, not that; but--I'm tired," she said.
As she spoke, skilfully, without appearing to do so, she led him to look towards the little group of the Murchisons and the Haymans; led him to pity her for their observation, and to take that as the cause of her wish to go. Perhaps it was partly the cause, but not wholly, and not as she made him believe it.
"Ill take you home at once," Nigel said, tenderly.
When they were outside Baroudi bade them good-bye, and invited them to tea on the Loulia--so his dahabeeyah was called--on the following day.
"In the evening I may start for Armant," he said. "Will it bore you to come, madame?"
He spoke politely, but rather perfunctorily, and she answered with much the same tone.
"Thanks, I shall be delighted. Good-night. The music was delicious."
His tall figure went away in the dark.
When he had left them there was a silence. Nigel made a movement as if he were going to take her hand, and draw her arm within the circle of his; but he did not do it, and they walked on side by side by the river, not touching each other, not speaking. And so, presently, they came to the villa, and to the terrace before the drawing-room. Then Nigel spoke at last.