"Of course l did."
"But how did you know I was coming?"
"Mr. Waddington sent me a telegram."
Kitty turned away.
She had a lump in her throat.
It was funny that a little unexpected kindness should so affect her.
She did not want to cry; she wished Dorothy Townsend would go away.
But Dorothy took the hand that was hanging by Kitty's side and pressed it.
It embarrassed Kitty that this shy woman should be so demonstrative.
"I want you to do me a great favour.
Charlie and I want you to come and stay with us while you're in Hong Kong."
Kitty snatched her hand away.
"It's awfully kind of you. I couldn't possibly."
"But you must.
You can't go and live all by yourself in your own house.
It would be dreadful for you.
I've prepared everything.
You shall have your own sitting-room.
You can have your meals there if you don't care to have them with us.
We both want you to come."
"I wasn't thinking of going to the house.
I was going to get myself a room at the Hong Kong Hotel.
I couldn't possibly put you to so much trouble."
The suggestion had taken her by surprise.
She was confused and vexed.
If Charlie had had any sense of decency he would never have allowed his wife to make the invitation.
She did not wish to be under an obligation to either of them.
"Oh, but I couldn't bear the idea of your living at a hotel.
And you'd hate the Hong Kong Hotel just now.
With all those people about and the band playing jazz all the time.
Please say you"ll come to us.
I promise you that Charlie and I won't bother you."
"I don't know why you should be so kind to me." Kitty was getting a little short of excuses; she could not bring herself to utter a blunt and definite no. "I'm afraid I'm not very good company among strangers just now."
"But need we be strangers to you?
Oh, I do so want not to be, I so want you to allow me to be your friend." Dorothy clasped her hands and her voice, her cool, deliberate and distinguished voice, was tremulous with tears. "I so awfully want you to come.
You see, I want to make amends to you."
Kitty did not understand.
She did not know what amends Charlie's wife owed her.
"I'm afraid I didn't very much like you at first.
I thought you rather fast.
You see, I'm old-fashioned and I suppose I'm intolerant."
Kitty gave her a passing glance.
What she meant was that at first she had thought Kitty vulgar.
Though Kitty allowed no shadow of it to show on her face in her heart she laughed.
Much she cared for what any one thought ofher now!
"And when I heard that you'd gone with your husband into the jaws of death, without a moment's hesitation, I felt such a frightful cad.
I felt so humiliated.
You've been so wonderful, you've been so brave, you make all the rest of us look so dreadfully cheap and second-rate." Now the tears were pouring down her kind, homely face. "I can't tell you how much I admire you and what a respect I have for you.
I know I can do nothing to make up for your terrible loss, but I want you to know how deeply, how sincerely I feel for you.
And if you'll only allow me to do a little something for you it will be a privilege.