“Oh, I fancy they must be used to it,” said Mrs. Bowring, reassuringly, for the sake of saying something.
“They’ll hate the sight of me in a week!” said Lady Johnstone. “I mean to go everywhere, while I’m here—up all the hills, and down all the valleys. I always see everything when I come to a new place. It’s pleasant to sit still afterwards, and feel that you’ve done it all, don’t you know? I shall ruin you in porters, Adam,” she added, turning her large round face slowly to her husband.
“Certainly, certainly,” answered Sir Adam, nodding gravely, as he dissected the bones out of a fried sardine.
“You’re awfully good about it,” said Lady Johnstone, in thanks for unlimited porters to come.
Like many unusually stout people, she ate very little, and had plenty of time for talking.
“You knew my husband a long time ago, then!” she began, again looking across at Mrs. Bowring.
Sir Adam glanced at Mrs. Bowring sharply from beneath his shaggy brows.
“Oh yes,” she said calmly. “We met before he was married.”
The grey-headed man slowly nodded assent, but said nothing.
“Before his first marriage?” inquired Lady Johnstone gravely. “You know that he has been married twice.”