But Basil said, 'Oh, Spring Hill. Spring Hill is full of joy and dryads.'
'Kate is afraid a very common type of person is coming to live there. We're getting nervous about it at Violette. We're very particular, you know.'
Alix, with the instinct of a cad, was laughing at Violette, wanting him to laugh with her.
'Sure to be,' he returned; and Alix realised blankly that he might laugh at Violette to her heart's content and his attitude towards dryads and Evie Tucker's face-lines would remain unaltered by his mockery.
With a revulsion towards breeding, she said, 'They're most awfully kind.... Here's where I get off.'
He got off too, and they walked down Upper Clapton Road.
5
Some one came behind them, walking quickly, came up with them, slowed, and looked.
'Here we are again,' said Evie, in her clear gay voice. 'You're coming in to see us, Mr. Doye, I hope?'
Basil glanced from Alix to Evie. They were passing under a dim lamp, which for a moment threw Evie's startling prettiness in lit relief against the night. Extreme prettiness is not such a common thing that one can afford to miss chances of beholding it.