"Yes, damn you!"
"Well, it doesn't sound as though you did. I'm pretty, aren't I?"
"Yes, my little bonehead, you're lovely - Aphrodite and Helen rolled into one. Stop drivelling!"
"Oh, I can't think why I ever fell for you, darling. I think you're foul!" said Miss Dean cooingly.
He vouchsafed no answer to this remark, and his betrothed, apparently realising that his mood was not propitious, sank her chin into the collar of her fur coat, and relapsed into quiescent silence.
Their arrival at Lexham Manor coincided with that of Edgar Mottisfont, and all three were welcomed into the house by Joseph, who came trotting out into the porch, beaming with pleasure, and claiming the privilege of an old stager to embrace Valerie.
His rapt appreciation of the truly lovely picture she presented made Stephen look more than ordinarily sardonic, but was well received by his target. Miss Dean, who was indeed lovely, liked to hear her charms enthusiastically praised, and was not above responding to the arch sallies of old gentlemen. She lifted her large blue eyes to Joseph's face, and told him that she knew he was dreadfully wicked, a pronouncement which delighted Joseph, and made Stephen say ill-naturedly: "A case of si aieillesse pouvait!"
"Well, Stephen!" said Edgar Mottisfont, descending from the car which had been sent to fetch him from the station.
"Hallo!" said Stephen indifferently.
"This is an unexpected pleasure," said Mottisfont, looking at him with disfavour.