‘Why on earth not?’ she said. ‘I sit with him alone all day in his office. Besides, I know he has a dinner-party to-morrow. I shan’t see him.’
‘And how do you know that?’ he asked.
‘Because a note came to the office from his wife, which I opened, not knowing her writing, which had something to do with it. He began dictating a reply for me to type-write, but I suggested he had better write a note himself.’
‘What awful impertinence!’
‘He didn’t think so. He’s rather touching. He said, “Then you don’t despair of making a gentleman of me in time..”’
‘I remember you told me once he was a cad. I shall go to bed, I think.’
‘You had much better. And do let me tell him you have stopped there to-morrow morning she said.
‘I doubt it. Good-night. I dare say I shall be all right to-morrow.’
Charles was no better next day, but merely obstinate, and went up to his work, as usual, with his sister. Keeling appeared shortly after, and, as usual, began the dictation. Now and then he gave sharp glances at Norah, and before long stopped in the middle of a letter.