WhenMiltoun\'sshadowblottedthelightbywhichshewasseeingsolittle,shegaveaslightstart,andgotup。Butsheneitherwenttowardshim,norspoke。Andhe,withoutaword,cameinandstoodbythehearth,lookingdownattheemptygrate。Atortoise—shellcatwhichhadbeenwatchingswallows,disturbedbyhisentrance,withdrewfromthewindowbeneathachair。
Thissilence,inwhichthequestionoftheirfutureliveswastobedecided,seemedtobothinterminable;yet,neithercouldendit。
Atlast,touchinghissleeve,shesaid:\"You\'rewet！\"
Miltounshiveredatthattimidsignofpossession。Andtheyagainstoodinsilencebrokenonlybythesoundofthecatlickingitspaws。
Butherfacultyfordumbnesswasstrongerthanhis,and——hehadtospeakfirst。