"I'll never laugh at you about your speeches again, Harry. But, poor old fellow, how done up you look!"
"Doing this sort of thing every night's pretty tiring."
"Besides all the other things you have to do just now! I think I must come and stay at the Lion and look after you."
Harry looked at her with an expression that puzzled her; it almost seemed like resentment, though the idea was surely absurd. Miss Vintry said nothing; she stood by in silent composure.
"You're thinking of—of coming to Meriton?"
"I had an idea of it, for a week or two. I'm doing nothing, you know. Sally would come with me."
"I should think you'd find it awfully dull," said Harry.
The Nun could not make him out. Was he ashamed of her? Did he not want her to know Miss Wellgood, his fiancée? It almost looked like that. The Nun was a little hurt. She was aware that certain people held certain views; but Harry was an old, old friend. "Well, if I do come and find it dull, you needn't feel responsible. You haven't pressed me, have you?" and with a little laugh she went back to more expansive friends.
"That'd make another of them, and she's infernally sharp!" Harry said to Isobel Vintry, in that low careful voice to which he was nowadays so much addicted.
"Oh well, we can't keep it up this way long anyhow," she answered, and sauntered off to join Vivien.