"Time for what?"
"Oh,--just time!"
"It is always time for you to telegraph me or write me or to come halfway across the continent to see me," he said promptly. "Is Philip with you?"
"Come inside," she said, and led the way into the tiny drawing-room of the coach. "Your things are coming soon, I hope. We have only half an hour here. Is there anything worth getting off for, or shall we just sit and talk?"
"We'll talk first. Please remember that I don't know yet what has brought you here. Where is Philip?"
"Oh, he didn't come with me," she said, motioning him to a seat as she took a chair herself. It was a part of her general harmoniousness that she always took a chair which was in the right light to show up her hair. He used to smile at the trait. It struck him now for the first time as somewhat trivial. And as he looked at her, it struck him for the first time that she was somewhat trivial as a whole. Rachel trivial? It gave him a shock that made his answer almost incoherent.
"Poor fellow!" he said mechanically. "Still unable to bear moving?"
"Philip is greatly improved," she said. She was sliding a jewelled bracelet up and down on her arm, and did not look at him. "In fact, he is so much better that he has run over to France, with the Armstrongs."
Burton looked at her in grave inquiry. "I am glad that he is better, but why didn't he come with you, instead of going across the water?"
"Oh, I didn't need him. And he knew that I should pick you up here."