Another woman would have fainted: there had never been any mercy for her: but at least she would not sit there while Bertie talked of it.
So she lifted up her face, her stony face, and turned the current of his talk.
. . . .
Dinner came to an end at last and the automatic woman passed across to the sitting-room.
Her husband followed her; she stared at him.
“You must take my excuses to Blanche. It is due to my family that I should not appear to-night in public.”
“Certainly, certainly; a mark of respect, Blanche will understand. We will neither of us go.”
She looked at him in horror, all her force of will gathered to a point: “Go—go! Blanche will expect it. There is no reason for you to stop here.”
“My dear girl, do you think I can’t stand an evening alone with you? It will be a change, quite a pleasant change.”
. . . .