When she drove up to Dick's house, she noticed that there were fresh flowers in the window boxes, and when she was shown into his drawing-room, the first thing that struck her was the scent of red roses which were in masses everywhere. The blinds were down, and after the baking street the dark coolness of the room was very pleasant. The tea was on a little table, waiting to be poured out. Dick of course was there to receive her. As she shook hands with him, she smothered a little titter of wild excitement.
'So you've come back,' she said.
'I was just passing through town,' he answered, with an airy wave of the hand.
'From where to where?'
'From Homburg to the Italian Lakes.'
'Rather out of your way, isn't it?' she smiled.
'Not at all,' he replied. 'If I were going from Manchester to Liverpool, I should break the journey in London. That's one of my hobbies.'
Julia laughed gaily, and as they both made a capital tea, they talked of all manner of trivial things. They were absurdly glad to see one another again, and each was ready to be amused at everything the other said. But the conversation would have been unintelligible to a listener, since they mostly talked together, and every now and then made a little scene when one insisted that the other should listen to what he was saying.
Suddenly Mrs. Crowley threw up her hands with a gesture of dismay.
'Oh, how stupid of me!' she cried. 'I quite forgot to tell you why I telegraphed to you the other day.'