She was sitting apart from the rest; and again her heart gave so fierce a throb that she could hardly believe he would not hear. "Stupid! What has come over me?" she demanded angrily of herself, while looking up, and saying—
"How thoroughly Malcolm is enjoying himself."
"He has earned a few hours' rest if anybody ever did."
"And he looks better for it already. When do we turn?"
"Soon, I believe. The girls have been begging for another half-hour."
"You will be glad to get back. After going round the world, a trip like this must seem hardly worth the trouble."
"I don't think—" Nigel began and paused.
"Isn't that it? But you certainly are a degree flat to-day—are you not?"
He made no immediate response, seeming to consider what to say.
And suddenly, without premeditation, Fulvia found herself remarking, "So Ethel could not come."