Val went down and seconded her husband's invitation. Julia declined, but Ethan insisted. In the end she came. Twice in the following week Ethan went over to play tennis at the Otways'. The last time he brought Julia and Mr. Scherer back with him.
Val was sitting on the back veranda with Ernest and Sue Halliwell.
When the Halliwells had gone, and Ethan and Mr. Scherer had strolled off to see how the newly rolled and sodded croquet-ground was looking, Julia said, with a slight embarrassment:
"Your husband just made us come back with him."
"I'm very glad."
"I told him you didn't want to see me."
Val looked up quickly.
"He must have thought that strange."
"He did. So then I knew you had never told."
"Told what?"