"Robert is not up?" Theodora queried presently, too fine to insist on the suggested confidence.
"No. Are you sorry, Theo?"
Surprised at the tone, she glanced up, but the shadows were heavy where he sat.
"Why, yes, of course." And recovering herself, "Certainly; how could we exist without him?"
"How, indeed?" he echoed, rather too quietly for naturalness. "Suppose he were to go away?"
"I should expire immediately of ennui. You see, he and I have a bond of frivolity; while against you we all lean for support. You are very supporting, John; now, this tea," she laughed gleefully. "Robert probably would have pressed champagne upon me, because it is less trouble to get."
"You might have made tea yourself," he suggested, drawing a branch of the wistaria to shade his face more completely.
"I hate to do things for myself. I hope that I never will have to."
"I hope not. But I promised to tell you something. I am going on a trip to South America; part business, part restlessness."
"You!"