She had made love.... Queer it had been....
These furtive people were watching and watching her, reading her thoughts, perhaps, penetrating her....
Christina Alberta shut her copy of the Sketch with something of a snap, and walked out of the drawing-room with a serene expression. She shut the door behind her and went downstairs to find what had happened to her father in the smoking-room.
“I’m leaving the best part of the talk behind me,” reflected Christina Alberta.
§ 6
She found that her father and the gentleman from the forests of Burmah, after a very prolonged and brilliant “h’rrmping” match, had settled down to conversation. But unhappily the conversation was unsuitable for her.
“Siam, Cambodia, Tonquin, the country is full of such temples. They take you there and show you them.”
“Wonderful,” said Mr. Preemby. “Wonderful. And you do not think the carvings you speak of—? Some high symbolism?”
Both gentlemen became aware of Christina Alberta, attentive and hovering.
“Symbolism,” said the arboreal gentleman, “Symbolism,” and had complicated pharyngeal difficulties. “Heathenish indecency. Difficult to discuss.... Presence of young lady.... H’rrmp.”