"She came back the day before yesterday."
"Have you seen her?"
"Yes, I've seen her."
There was a long pause, filled by the insistent clamour of the sea. His next question was less audible to the outer than to the inner ear.
"How is she?"
Miss Palliser was seldom at a loss for a word; but this time she hesitated. "She—she is very plucky."
There was another and a longer pause in which neither had the courage to look at the other.
"Can I—Would it be possible for me to see her?"
Miss Palliser did not answer.
"I wouldn't dream of asking her, except that I've got something on my mind."