"Seven—seven o'clock and past!" she sighed, replacing it. "Ah me! You mustn't think, dear, that I'm dreadfully rude and inhospitable, but I'm afraid I must ask you not to stay any longer."
"Oh—h!"
"It's no use saying 'oh' in that dolorous manner," she declared, smiling. "You see—it's this way—old Philia has to leave here for the 'Poly' about seven. She will be going in a few minutes."
"But we don't mind, do we? We don't want the old lady."
Evarne cast down her eyes. The only excuse that had crossed her mind for getting Geoff out of the house struck her as being decidedly petty and unworthy.
"It is stupid, I know well; but people do talk so."
"Why, silly little Evarne, you are surely not bothering about Mrs. Grundy and the neighbours, are you?"
With a somewhat feeble and shamefaced smile she rose up from out the depths of the chair, and replied only by fetching his hat and offering it to him with a little curtsey.
"It's only till to-morrow. I shall come to the studio just as usual."
The young man took the proffered hat with undisguised reluctance.