“Of course we shall. Now you can go back. Mrs Peagrim will be wondering what has become of you.”
“Must I?” said Uncle Chris doubtfully.
“Of course. You must be polite.”
“Very well,” said Uncle Chris. “But it will be a little difficult to continue the conversation on what you might call general lines. However!”
Back in the box, Mrs Peagrim was fanning herself with manifest impatience.
“What did that girl want?” she demanded.
Uncle Chris seated himself with composure. The weakness had passed, and he was himself again.
“Oh, nothing, nothing. Some trivial difficulty, which I was able to dispose of in a few words.”
Mrs Peagrim would have liked to continue her researches, but a feeling that it was wiser not to stray too long from the main point restrained her. She bent towards him.