She knew that all her letters to Chris were stiff and uninteresting, but she was in constant dread of letting him read between the lines and guess how unhappy she was. For his benefit she often manufactured stories of things she was supposed to have done and entertainments she had visited.
He should not think she was moping or wanted him back. She would do without him if he could do without her.
Young Atkins got tickets for the most absurd farce in town, and he and Marie laughed till they cried over it.
Marie had only been to the theater half a dozen times in her life, and then always to performances of Shakespeare or some other classic. She told him quite frankly that she did not know when she had enjoyed herself so much. They went on to Bond Street together 127 afterwards and ate an enormous tea.
Although she was reluctant to admit it to herself, Marie knew that she had enjoyed herself far more with young Atkins than she had done that afternoon with Chris when he bought the pearls. She put up her hand with a little feeling of guilt to the necklace, which she was wearing. Young Atkins noticed the little gesture.
"Are they real?" he asked.
"Yes, Chris gave them to me."
"Mind you, don't lose them—they must be worth an awful lot.
"They are, rather a lot."
She assented listlessly, knowing that their value was nothing to her.