“I do understand! Don’t mind what I say. Naturally it’s annoying, but you’re right, I suppose—you’re perfectly right. I am glad, at any rate, that you allow me to talk to you for a few minutes. You are looking very well!” His eyes took her in in one rapid comprehensive sweep, and Claire thanked Providence that she had put on her prettiest dress. “I am glad that you are keeping fit. Did you enjoy your holiday in Belgium?”
“How did you know I was in Belgium?”
He laughed easily, but ignored the question.
“You have good news of your mother, I hope?”
“Very good. She loves the life, and is very happy and interested, and my stepfather writes that his friends refuse to believe in the existence of a grown-up daughter. He is so proud of her youthful looks.”
“How much did you tell her about your Christmas holidays?”
“All the nice bits! I don’t approve of burdening other people!”
“Evidently not. Then there have been burdens? You’ve implied that! Nothing by any chance, in which a man—fairly intelligent, and, in this instance, keen after work—could possibly be of some use?”
The two pairs of eyes met, gazed, held one another steadily for a long eloquent moment.
“Yes,” said Claire.