“Not to me.”
He laughed bitterly. Margaret went to the side-board and helped herself to one of the breakfast dishes. Being the last down, she turned out the spirit-lamp that kept them warm. She was tender, but grave. She knew that Henry was not so much confessing his soul as pointing out the gulf between the male soul and the female, and she did not desire to hear him on this point.
“Did Helen come?” she asked.
He shook his head.
“But that won’t do at all, at all! We don’t want her gossiping with Mrs. Bast.”
“Good God! no!” he exclaimed, suddenly natural. Then he caught himself up. “Let them gossip. My game’s up, though I thank you for your unselfishness—little as my thanks are worth.”
“Didn’t she send me a message or anything?”
“I heard of none.”
“Would you ring the bell, please?”
“What to do?”