"I suppose," said Marie, with interest, from behind her coffee-pot, "that your work will be rather different."
"It will, rather. I believe I'm to put in some days in town, and then run down to our various agents in the Midlands. There's quite a busy programme mapped out, I believe."
"You'll enjoy that."
"Shall you go away again, Daddy?" asked Minna.
"Don't talk at breakfast, dear," said her mother.
Osborn looked across at his wife.
"I shall be off your hands a good deal."
Bitterness savoured his voice. She smiled at him sympathetically, but he smarted under the knowledge that her sympathy did not go very deep. Yet he was strangely reluctant to hurry away. He remained until George had started for school; until Minna had begged to be allowed to get down and go to see baby finish her breakfast. Then he rose, and went rather heavily round the table to his wife, and laid a hand on her shoulder.
"I couldn't sleep. I was thinking of you and all the things you said last night."
"I'm sorry you didn't sleep. I expect you were rather tired with travelling; over-tired, perhaps."