"I took the Tube up to the Park and had a walk." She paused. "I met Hobart and Cicely Gaynor."
"Oh, the happy pair! How were they flourishing?"
"They—well, they warned me off, Godfrey. At least she did—and he had to follow suit, of course."
Godfrey had been helping himself to whisky and soda-water; tumbler in hand, he walked across the studio and back again.
"Hobart's one of the very few people in the world I'm really fond of."
"Well, you know, Winnie, you wanted it this way. I assure you I don't find it altogether comfortable either." He emptied the tumbler in a long draught and set it down on the table.
She jumped up quickly, came to him, and clasped her arms round his neck; she could but just reach, for he was tall.
"And they've all been at me—and at you about me—in Woburn Square too, I suppose?"
"On my honour, you weren't once mentioned the whole time, Winnie. They were all three just awfully kind, and glad to see me."
Winnie's face wore much the same smile as when she had regarded Cicely Gaynor's erect back in retreat from her.