He knew, or thought he knew, that she had asked him to do this because he disliked going near the window. It was not that he had any bodily fear; it was from the look of doom in the sky and from the sound of doom in the thunderclaps that he shrank as from the symbols of discord. He stood on the window seat and braced himself for an eruption that seemed due at any moment. It did not come, but the tension held him miserably.

“I think you ought to know, David, I’ve just been writing letter …”

He swung around. “You have? To that school? About Leni?”

“You evidently have it on your mind … More tea?”

“N — no … But why on earth should you have written?”

“Well, you wrote, didn’t you?”

“Only a testimonial.”

“Don’t you realize what that means?”

“Well, surely —”

“Do you realize that if she’s put in a position of trust and betrays it you might be held responsible for concealing the truth?”

“What truth? I only vouched for her character and knowledge of German.”

“Character? Did you state that you met her first a few months ago, and that you didn’t know a thing about her past life except that she’d been on the stage and had tried to kill herself?”

“But — why — surely —”

“Well, I put it all in my letter in case you’d forgotten.”

“But — she may not get the job if you’ve said all that.”

“Isn’t that her business? Why not try minding ours for a change?”

“Yes! Why not? That’s just it! Can’t you leave the girl alone?”

“Can’t you?”

Suddenly he realized that the letter was still there, unposted on the bureau. Striding over, he sought it hastily amidst the pile and tore it across. He was aware that the act was melodramatic, but all his nerves were craving for some if even the stupidest release in action.

“That just gives me the trouble of writing another. Really, David, you do the most childish things.”

The room lit up with the tremendous flashing and roaring outburst that he had been expecting, yet was not and never could be prepared for. He saw Jessica’s eyes gleaming at him across the hearthrug.

“And one more thing, David. I believe she sometimes comes in here to play the piano?”

“Yes, I said she could. After all, what harm does it do? She’s really quite good at it — she ought to take it up seriously —”

“I don’t wish her to play my piano in future, that’s all.”

“But there isn’t any future! Good God, don’t you realize that? In five days —”

“David, I think you’d better calm yourself.”

“Yes, yes, I know — it’s the storm, I think — I must get away —”

He rushed from the room and down the three steps, through the double doors into the surgery. It was far more dangerous there in a storm, for if a chimney stack were struck by lightning the debris would crash through the glass roof as through paper. But all he craved was the personal citadel where he could rest and be alone; and to be alone with Leni was still, in this deep sense, to be alone. There she was, arranging his papers, her upward glance a warm and welcoming thing.