"Look here, Ruby, if—"
"Go down! I'll come directly."
Footsteps went towards the stairs.
"Get me into my gown! Wait—change my stockings first."
Marie knelt down quickly on the floor. As she bent her head, she was smiling.
She began to understand.
XIV
When Mrs. Armine came into the little drawing-room, it was empty, but she smelt cigars, and heard the murmur of voices outside near the terrace. The men were evidently walking up and down enjoying the soft air of the evening. She did not go out immediately, but stood and listened to the voices.
Ah, they were talking about the Fayyūm—doubtless discussing some question of sowing, planting, of the cultivation of land!
This evening her face seemed to retain in its skin an effect of her outburst of passion, a sensation of dryness and harshness, as if it were unduly stretched over the flesh and had lost its normal elasticity. Just before she came out of her bedroom, Marie, with a sort of reluctant admiration, had exclaimed, "Madame est exquise ce soir!" She wondered if it were true, and as the voices without grew softer for a moment, more distant, she went to stand again before a mirror, and to ask herself that question.