The Judge looked after her as she walked away, attended by Arthur. "That was rather an acute remark of hers," he said.
"Yes, I wonder what made her say it!" Esther was looking puzzled and thoughtful again.
"Oh, come, we all of us make intelligent general observations at times, Esther."
"I don't think Bernadette's much given to general observations, though."
"Anyhow it's good to see her in such spirits," said Norton Ward. "Rather surprising too, since you're talking of surprises. Because between ourselves—and now that the family's out of hearing—I may say that our host is even unusually poor company just now."
"As Bernadette's very little in his company, that doesn't so much matter."
"Esther, my dear, you sound rather tart," said Sir Christopher. "Come and drink the hock-cup; it'll make you more mellow."
Bernadette's gay and malicious humour persisted through lunch, but when, according to her promise, she sat with Arthur on the seat by the river, sheltered by a tree, her mood had changed; she was very friendly, but pensive and thoughtful beyond her wont. She looked at him once or twice as if she meant to speak, but ended by saying nothing. At last she asked him whether he has seen anything of the Sarradets lately.
"Not since my lunch—when you met Marie," he answered. He was smoking his pipe and now and then throwing pebbles into the river—placidly happy.
"I liked her awfully. You musn't drop her, Arthur. She's been a good friend to you, hasn't she?"