"Oh, Rix! You said you were going to surprise her in the morning!"
"But I want to see her, Molly. I don't want to wait——"
"It's after ten and Strelsa has probably retired. She's a perfect farmer, I tell you—yawns horribly every evening at nine. Why, I can't keep her awake long enough to play a hand at Chinese Khan! Be reasonable, Rix. You had planned to surprise her in the morning.... And—I'm lonely without Jim.... Besides, if you are clever enough to burst upon Strelsa's view in the morning when the day is young and all before her, and when she's looking her very best, nobody can tell what might happen.... And I'll whisper in your ear that the child has really missed you.... But don't be in a hurry with her, will you, Rix?"
"No," he said absently.
Molly picked up her knitting.
"If Chester Ledwith doesn't return by twelve I'm going to have the house locked," she said, stifling a yawn.
At twelve o'clock the house was accordingly locked for the night.
"It's enough to compromise her," said Molly, crossly. "What a pair of fools they are."