"But how foolish," said Mrs. Goodwyn-Sandys, "when you know very well by the invoice that it's tea!"
"Oh, of course it's foolish: only it's the rule, you understand, before allowing goods to be landed."
"But I don't understand. It is tea, and I am ready to pay the duty. I never thought you would be so unreasonable."
"Geraldine!"
At the utterance of Mrs. Goodwyn-Sandys' Christian name the two minions turned aside to conceal their smiles. The red-faced man's appreciation even led him to dive behind the packing-case. The Collector pulled himself up and looked confused.
"It was so small a thing I asked," said she, almost to herself, and with a heart-rending break in her voice, "so small a test!" And with a sigh she half-turned to go.
The Collector's hand arrested her.
"Do you mean—?"
She looked at him with reproach in her eyes. "Let me pass," said she, and seeing the conflict between love and duty on his face, "So small a test!"
"Damn the tea!" said Mr. Moggridge.