The simple statement troubled Sybil. She felt that she must get the ring from Mr. Kirby before her husband should see him. She had no reason for feeling this, but the idea was strong upon her, though she told herself it was entirely absurd.
“You’re looking tired, little girl,” said Luke solicitously. “Hope you didn’t overwalk to-day?”
“Oh, no,” she said lightly. “I’m sleepy, that’s all. I’ll go up now and leave you to have your last pipe in the garden.”
She left the room and Luke strolled into the garden, where he smoked under the quiet stars, and sniffed the night air, and watched the light in Sybil’s room with a feeling of great content. The world, in his opinion, was an extraordinarily pleasant place.
CHAPTER XXVI
PIPPA’S MOTHER
MISS Mason was in her studio having tea. Barnabas was with her. He invariably dropped in at tea-time unless he was giving a tea-party on his own account.
Pippa had gone with Alan to look at flats. The occupation was an intense joy to her. If he had decided on all the flats on which she had set her heart he would have taken at least a dozen, and he and Aurora would have lived in one at a time during each of the twelve months of the year. Hitherto, notwithstanding Pippa’s enthusiasm regarding them, he had not found one that quite came up to his requirements. Tea being finished, Barnabas lit a cigarette.
“I must take you to call on Mrs. McAndrew soon,” said Barnabas. “She and Andrew have got a minute flat quite close to his studio. She’s a delightful old lady. You will like her, and her Scotch is, if anything, broader than Andrew’s. I’ve never seen a fellow so gloriously happy as he is. We look upon you, Aunt Olive, as a kind of fairy godmother, who has only to touch people’s lives with a magic wand to ensure their happiness.”
Miss Mason laughed gruffly.