"Claude, I can't stay in here! I can't rest. Don't ask me to. Anything else, but not that!"
She went to him, put her hands on his shoulders.
"Where to?"
"Anywhere! Fifth Avenue, Central Park! Let us walk! I know! Let us walk across the park and look at the theater, our theater. A walk will do me more good than you can dream of, genius though you are. And the time will pass quickly. I want it to fly. I want it to be night. I want to see the crowd. I want to hear it. How can we sit here in this hot red room waiting? Take me out!"
Claude was glad to obey her. They wrapped themselves up, for it was a bitter day, and went down to the hall. As they passed the bureau the well-dressed, smooth-faced men behind the broad barrier looked at them with a certain interest and smiled. Charmian glanced round gaily and nodded to them.
"I am sure they are all wishing us well!" she said to Claude. "I quite love Americans."
"A taxi, sir?" asked a big man in uniform outside.
"No, thank you."
They went to the left and turned into Fifth Avenue.