"Thank you," she said gently. "Well, you will come to-morrow?"
"Of course," he said. "What theatre shall we go to? I'll bring the tickets with me."
The conversation drifted away into indifferent topics and presently they parted. Nina was almost gay of heart as she drove homeward that night. She had begun to feel her loneliness very keenly, and Archie's society promised to be of value.
Her husband was waiting for her when she returned. As she entered her own sitting-room, he started up abruptly from an arm-chair as if her entrance had suddenly roused him from sleep. She was considerably surprised to see him there, for he had never before intruded without her permission.
He glanced at the clock, but made no comment upon the lateness of the hour.
"I hope you have enjoyed yourself," he said somewhat formally.
The words were as unexpected as was his presence there. Nina stood for a moment, waiting for something further.
Then, as he did not speak, she shrugged her shoulders and threw back her cloak.
"It was a tremendous crush," she said indifferently. "No, I didn't enjoy it particularly. But it was something to do."
"I am sorry you are feeling bored," he said gravely.