“Oh, please,” she said, “if you wouldn’t mind, I shall cut them so much better if you hold one end.”
David knelt down and held the stuff, whilst Elizabeth cut it. She came quite close to him at the end, smiled again, and took away the two pieces which he still clutched helplessly.
“That’s beautiful,” she said, and sat down and began to sew.
David watched her in silence. If she found his gaze embarrassing, she showed no sign.
“We can start to-morrow,” he said at last. He gave a list of trains, stopping-places, and hotels, paused at the end of it, walked to the window, and then, turning, said with an effort:
“This has been a bad beginning for you, my dear—you’ve been very good to me. You deserve a better bargain, but I’ll do my best.”
Elizabeth did not speak at once. David thought that she was not going to speak at all, but after what seemed like a long time she said:
“David!” and then stopped.
There was a good deal of colour in her cheeks. David saw that she, too, was making an effort.
“Well,” he said, and his voice was more natural.