‘And so she told him,’ said Ladywell.
‘And I have no doubt she will keep her word to him in her usual precise manner.’
‘But see what she implied to me! I distinctly understood from her that the answer would be favourable.’
‘So did I.’
‘So does he.’
‘And he is sure to be the one who gets it, since only one of us can. Well, I wouldn’t marry her for love, money, nor—’
‘Offspring.’
‘Exactly: I would not. “I’ll give you an answer in a month”—to all three of us! For God’s sake let’s sit down here and have something to drink.’
They drew up a couple of chairs to one of the tables of a wine-shop close by, and shouted to the waiter with the vigour of persons going to the dogs. Here, behind the horizontal-headed trees that dotted this part of the quay, they sat over their bottles denouncing womankind till the sun got low down upon the river, and the houses on the further side began to be toned by a blue mist. At last they rose from their seats and departed, Neigh to dine and consider his route, and Ladywell to take the train for Dieppe.
While these incidents had been in progress the two workmen had found their way into the hotel where Ethelberta was staying. Passing through the entrance, they stood at gaze in the court, much perplexed as to the door to be made for; the difficulty was solved by the appearance of Cornelia, who in expectation of them had been for the last half-hour leaning over the sill of her bed-room window, which looked into the interior, amusing herself by watching the movements to and fro in the court beneath.