He arrived with the cigarettes, and offered them, and lit the match, and offered that.
"And what have you been doing with yourself all afternoon?" Edwin enquired, between puffs of smoke.
"Oh, nothing much!"
"I thought you were coming to the works and then going down to Auntie Clara's for tea."
"So I was. But mother sent me to Hanbridge."
"Oh," murmured Edwin casually. "So your mother packed you off to Hanbridge, did she?"
"I had to go to the Post Office," George continued. "I think it was a telegram, but it was in an envelope, and some money."
"Indeed!" said Edwin, with a very indifferent air.
He was, however, so affected that he jumped up abruptly from the table, and went into the darkening, chill garden, ignoring George. George, accustomed to these sudden accessions of interest and these sudden forgettings, went unperturbed his ways.
About half past eight Hilda returned. Edwin was closing the curtains in the drawing-room. The gas had been lighted.