"Are you not, dearest?"
"I—had a wonderful sleep last night," she said perversely. "I don't know whether I'm awake or not."
"Oh, Steve!——"
"I don't, I tell you!——" keeping her gaze smilingly averted and very busy with kettle and tea-caddy.... "Where have you been all day?"
"I came down, but you had fled to your lesson. Then I had a date with H. Belter, but he didn't appear until nearly five. It was a strenuous interview."
She lifted her eyes to his, full of interested inquiry.
"Yes," he nodded; "he's found out he's an ass, and he's in love with his wife. If she can stand for him now, after these three years, I think he'll make a better husband than the average."
"She's a dear," murmured Stephanie. "What a painful situation!—but wasn't she dignified and sweet? Oh, I do hope she cares enough for Harry to give him another chance.... Are they amiable together over there? I don't want to turn around."
He cautiously surveyed the scene out of a corner of his eye:
"She's seated beside the piano. It's evident she hasn't asked him to be seated. They are horribly serious. He looks ten years older."