One morning it snowed hard before breakfast for about an hour, and by one o’clock London was a city of slush. Eve felt depressed, and her shoes and stockings and the bottom of her skirt were sodden when she reached the flat in Purbeck Street. Adolf smiled his usual smile, and confessed that Mr. Massinger had not expected her.
“Ma Donna! I never thought you would brave this horrible weather.”
He threw a book aside and was up, solicitous, and not a little pleased at the chance of being tender.
“I suppose English weather is part of the irony of life!”
“Good heavens! Your shoes and skirt are wet!”
“A little.”
He piled two or three cushions in front of the fire.
“Do sit down and take your shoes and stockings off, and dry your skirt.”
She sat down and took off her shoes.
“Stockings too! I can be very fatherly and severe. Do you think it immodest to show your bare feet? You must have a liqueur; it will warm you.”