“Had your tea?” Darius asked, in an unnatural tone.
“Yes,” said Edwin.
Darius, having saved his face, hurried into the house, and Edwin moved down the garden, with heart sensibly beating. The encounter renewed his agitation.
And at the corner of the garden, over the hedge, which had been repaired, Janet entrapped him. She seemed to have sprung out of the ground. He could not avoid greeting her, and in order to do so he had to dominate himself by force. She was in white. She appeared always to wear white on fine summer days. Her smile was exquisitely benignant.
“So you’re installed?” she began.
They talked of the removal, she asking questions and commenting, and he giving brief replies.
“I’m all alone to-night,” she said, in a pause, “except for Alicia. Father and mother and the boys are gone to a fête at Longshaw.”
“And Miss Lessways?” he inquired self-consciously.
“Oh! She’s gone,” said Janet. “She’s gone back to London. Went yesterday.”
“Rather sudden, isn’t it?”