Mrs. Yellam returned the papers. Alfred folded them carefully, and placed them in the inner pocket of his tunic.
"They go back with me to France," he said quietly.
Mrs. Yellam sighed.
"You be a lucky man, Alferd."
He nodded and went upstairs. Mrs. Yellam heard a tinkle of laughter. She sat on, thinking; a frown wrinkled her broad forehead. She had never played the game of love as Fancy played it. It occurred to her that she had missed something all her life without knowing what it was. It might be wise to consult Solomon, who was gazing at her interrogatively, with his head on one side. She did so.
"Be they a pair o' fools, Solly?"
Solomon never budged. This might be taken to mean an answer in the negative.
"There be wisdom in folly, my dog, and folly in wisdom. You knows that?"
Solomon wagged his tail. Mrs. Yellam continued:
"I be learning things, Solly, old as I be. I wish I'd ha' learned 'em earlier. I might ha' been a happier 'ooman. I might ha' made my man happier. Why do such knowledge come to us too late?"