Then she replied, very calmly, waving her fan lightly in front of her bare neck, sheltering in the foam of her fan:

“I’m damned glad to hear it!”

He gave a loud, throaty laugh:

“There, I like that! You’ve still got your witty sense of repartee. Always to the point. Damned clever of you!”

She stood up strained and nervous:

“I must leave you. I must go to Mrs. Uxeley.”

He spread out his arms:

“Stay and sit with me a little longer. It does me good to talk to you.”

“Then restrain yourself a bit and don’t ‘damn’ quite so much. I’ve not been used to it lately.”

“I’ll do my best. Sit down.”