It gave her time apparently to make out something to pause for. “In my absence?”
He lit his cigarette. “I may come back——”
“Come back?” she took him almost sharply up. “I should like to see you not!”
He smoked a moment. “I mean to my old idea——”
She had quite turned round on him now. “Your old idea——?”
He faced her over the width still between them. “Well—that one could give it up.”
Her stare, at this, fairly filled the space. “Give up Covering? How in the world—or why?”
“Because I can’t afford to keep it.”
It brought her straight back, but only half-way: she pulled up short as at a flash. “Can’t you let it?”
Again he smoked before answering. “Let it to you?”