"'That's what makes it all so wonderful,' said Milly. 'He's a wonderful brother for you.'
"She began to praise the beauty of Fanny's flat, and Fanny offered to show her all over it. They were away some time and I went to the window, wishing stupidly after the manner of a man that they could somehow contrive to be a little different and a little warmer with each other. Didn't they both love me and shouldn't that be a bond of sisterhood between them?
"Then came tea, one of Fanny's wonderful teas, but I was no longer the indiscriminate devourer of teas that I had been. Milly praised it all like a visiting duchess.
"'Well,' said Milly at last with the air of one who has many appointments, 'it's time to go I'm afraid....'
"I had been watching Fanny very closely throughout this visit and contrasting her guarded and polished civilities with the natural warmth of her reception of Hetty, half a year before. I felt I could not wait for another occasion before I had a word or two with her. So I kissed her good-bye—even her kiss had changed—and she and Milly hesitated and kissed, and I went down past the landing with Milly and heard the door close above. 'I've left my gloves,' I said suddenly. 'You go on down. I won't be a moment.' And I darted back upstairs.
"Fanny did not come to the door immediately.
"'What is it, Harry?' she said, when she appeared.
"'Gloves!' said I. 'No! Here they are in my pocket. Silly of me! ... You do like her, Fanny? You think she's all right, don't you? She's a little shy with you, but she's a dear.'
"Fanny looked at me. I thought her eyes were hard. 'She's all right,' she said. 'Quite all right. You'll never have to divorce her, Harry.'
"'I didn't know. I want you to—like her. I thought—you didn't seem quite warm.'