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.''You don't know how he'll feel.' her father persisted, 'I know how he'll feel when he learns he's married to me.'Her father became resigned then and to Tessa's relief he had allowed the matter to drop.Nevertheless there was something puzzling about him and during the past two days Tessa had on more than one occasion caught him casting her a furtive glance and then shaking his head, as if pondering over some troublesome thing of which he was half afraid.'Shall I pack this underwear?' Mrs.Blane's low and musical voice brought Tessa back with a jerk to the disorder around her.She heaved a sigh and shook her head.'I think I'd better do it myself, Mum.Perhaps I should have had a couple more boxes but they are such a lot to send.''Must you pack in such a hurry, and be off this evening?'.'The men are coming for these boxes first thing in the morning.' she reminded her mother.'As for my own departure you know why I'm going on tonights, flight.' She had to be at the airport at five o'clock Paul thought she would be at the hospital this after noon John Reade had told her to be there at four so she could be with Paul when the bandage were removed.'Your husband has specifically requested that you be there.' Reade told her; the glow of victory bringing character to his rather nondescript features.'Your face is the first thing he wants to see.'Lucinda's face.the beautiful face of the woman he loved.Tessa glanced at the clock.Almost one.In three hours Paul would see.Her goodbye had been said yesterday, although Paul did not know it, of course.'You're quiet, darling,' he had said, several times, and always it seemed to Tessa that there was a question in his tones, an odd expectancy in his manner."It's excitement,' was her repeated answer.'Just think; this time tomorrow you'll be able to see!' He must remain in hospital for a few days after the removal of the bandages, and after that he would wear dark glasses for a while as protection against glare.'Yes, I'll be able to see.to see you, my sweet and lovely wife! 'An ache of bitterness settled in Tessa's heart.She thought of Lucinda, happily married to someone else; she thought of Paul and the disillusionment to come and she thought of herself.loving so desperately, and yet unloved.She had managed a lightness of manner as she kissed him, but her heart felt dead.The last kiss, the last glimpse of him as she turned before closing the door.Tears blinded her as she stumbled along the corridor.Gone.Paul had gone out of her life forever.'Tessa, dear.' Her mother's gentle voice brought her once again out of her reverie and she looked up.'That coffee set it would have been better to wrap it in the towels.Paper's all right, but it takes up room.''Yes, I suppose you're right, I'll—' Tessa broke off as the door bell rang; she stepped back,' to glance through the window.A taxi was parked outside the gate, but she could not manage to get a glimpse of the person at the front door.'I'll go and see who it is.' As Mrs.Blane made move she heard her husband coming down the stain running, Tessa realized with a sudden frown, 'Your father's doing it.'Mr.Blane had surprised Tessa and her mother by coming home from work at lunch time, saying he did not feel too well.But this puzzled them both, for not only had he never ailed a thing in his life but he had looked to be in the highest of spirits even while declaring himself to be off colour.Also, only ten minute later Tessa had heard him humming a tune to himself in the bathroom.She felt she must be wrong, but she had the strange idea that her father had not been to work at all that morning.'I think I'll pack one of these boxes at a time,' Tessa said with decision, not in the least interested in their caller.'That would be a good idea,' Mrs.Blane agreed, because you don't seem to be getting anywhere like this.'Lack of enthusiasm for her task, said Tessa, but silently.'You're quite right about that,' she owned, looking round.'What a muddle the place is in!' She caught sight of herself in the mirror; hair all awry and a shiny nose.And what of her dress? There was distinctly dirty mark right across' the front made by her leaning over the tea chests, which were far from clean, having been lying in the grocers cellar for months.The sight of her own unkept appearance had a depressing effect on her.She felt like running away miles away from this room, from the disord behind her and the burden of packing.She felt like running away from everything.from life itself.'You'll get it straight—''So you made it?' Her husband's voice cut short the sentence and Mrs.Blane frowned in puzzlement.'Who can that be?' she queried, but Tessa merely shook her head and picked up a pile of folded bedding sheets and pillow cases arid an embroidered cover.'She's here?'Tessa froze to the spot.Her mother went slightly pale and stepped out into the hall.'Yes, she's here.' A small pause and then, 'I was , 'worried in case they wouldn't allow you out.''You needn't have let that trouble you; came the grim rejoinder.'Where is she?' A murmur of voices and then,''In here.'Coming to life, Tessa flung down the bedding and began to drag at the tea chests, bringing them close and placing them, one by one, in a sort of half circle around her.It was an involuntary action, and only when she was standing there, behind her defensive barrier and in the midst of such disorder, did she realize just how ridiculous she must look.Breathless, she lifted her head.Paul stood in the doorway, his eyes hidden behind dark glasses; yet she sensed their incredulity as Paul glanced round the room before settling his gaze on his wife's flushed countenance.She was the first to speak, in a cracked and tremulous little voice.'Paul.' Although she spoke his name she could scarcely grasp the fact of his presence.'You've c come, to find Lucinda, b but she I.' Her voice trailed away into silence.How had he got here?'I've come to find my wife.''Yes, I know; she trembled, 'But you s see, P Paul, that is, you're m married to ' She stopped, endeavouring to be more articulate.'Oh, Paul, I' not Lucinda I ' she cried, covering her face with her hands.He removed his glasses for a moment.He came towards her, then halted by the barrier
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