"Do you know the kettle's boiling?" he forced himself to say.
"Yes; I'm just going to make tea. You'll have some tea?"
"Oh, rather. You promised that."
He looked up with his old jerk of the head, courting the smile to
her lips. She had no smile to give, and a shrug half tossed his
shoulders.
"Are you comfortable here?" he asked, as she poured out the boiling
water.
"Oh yes. Very."
"God!" he said casually within himself, feeling the weight of the
strain. Then he struggled for it once more.
"I'm dining with Devenish this evening," he said lightly. "You
remember Devenish, don't you?"
"Oh yes--I remember him. He came up to see me here a few weeks ago."
"Did he? He's a gay dog," he said lightly. "Do you like him?"
"I haven't thought about it."
"Oh, then you don't. And haven't you seen him since?"
"No; I've been away."
"Away?"
"Yes; down at Cailsham--staying with my mother."
"Oh, very nice, I should think. I'm glad you're moving about a bit.
I was rather afraid, you know, that you'd hang about in town all
through the summer, and that 'ud be bound to knock you up."
She handed him his cup of tea. "Why were you afraid?" she asked.
Pages:
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513