I returned her kiss with a queer feeling at my heart, too undifferentiated to be even a definite sense of guilt or meanness. I think it was chiefly amazement—at the universe—at myself.
“I never knew what it was to be away from you,” she said.
I perceived suddenly that she had resolved to end our estrangement. She put herself so that my arm came caressingly about her.
“These are jolly furs,” I said.
“I got them for you.”
The parlourmaid appeared below dealing with the maid and the luggage cab.
“Tell me all about America,” said Margaret. “I feel as though you'd been away six year's.”
We went arm in arm into our little sitting-room, and I took off the fur's for her and sat down upon the chintz-covered sofa by the fire. She had ordered tea, and came and sat by me. I don't know what I had expected, but of all things I had certainly not expected this sudden abolition of our distances.
“I want to know all about America,” she repeated, with her eyes scrutinising me. “Why did you come back?”
I repeated the substance of my letters rather lamely, and she sat listening.