"I am losing faith in you," she declared. "There are signs of a hurried departure from this room. There is a distinct perfume of roses about the place. You have always told me that I am the only visitor of my sex you allow here. I am fiercely jealous! Tell me what this tea-tray and the empty cups mean?"
"It means Louise," he answered, smiling. "She has just this moment gone away."
Sophy sighed with an air of mock relief.
"Louise I suppose I must tolerate," she said. "Fancy her coming here to tea with you, though!"
"I have been up to Cumberland for a day," he told her, "and Louise came to meet me at the station."
"How is your angel brother?" she asked. "Did he ask after me?"
"He did mention you," John confessed. "I don't remember any direct message, though. You want a cocktail, of course, don't you?"
"Dying for it," she admitted. "I have had such a dull week! We've been playing in wretched little places, and last night the show went bust. The manager presented us with our fares home this morning. We were only down in Surrey, so here I am."
"Well, I'm glad to see you back again," John told her, after he had ordered the cocktails. "Louise has been quite lost without you, too."
"I didn't want to go away," she sighed, "but I do get so tired of not working! Although my part wasn't worth anything, I hated it being cut out. It makes one feel so aimless. One has too much time to think."