'You seem tremendously surprised to find anything in its right place.'
The moment of solemn parting had come, yet she found herself laughing on. Perhaps she was glad to find the farewell easier than she had foreseen. It had certainly been made easier by the theological passage of arms, which brought out all her latent antagonism to the prejudiced young pietist. Her hostility gave rather a scornful ring to the laugh, which ended with a suspicion of hysteria.
'What a lot of stuff you've written,' he said. 'I shall never be able to get this into one number.'
'I didn't intend you should. It's to be used in instalments, if it's good enough. I did it all in advance, because I'm going away.'
'Going away!' he cried, arresting himself in the midst of an inhalation of smoke. 'Where?'
'I don't know,' she said wearily.
He looked alarm and interrogation.
'I am going to leave the Goldsmiths,' she said. 'I haven't decided exactly what to do next.'
'I hope you haven't quarrelled with them.'
'No, no; not at all. In fact, they don't even know I am going. I only tell you in confidence. Please don't say anything to anybody. Good-bye. I may not come across you again. So this may be a last good-bye.'