Mrs. Neale stood beside her.
"Ah, good evening, Muriel."
"Good evening."
They made way for the crowd brushing past, and Muriel was conscious then that Mrs. Neale approved of her.
"It's a long time since I saw you."
"Yes." She would speak naturally. "The last time was when Godfrey brought me over to tea, when we met out walking."
"Yes." Mrs. Neale now was silent.
Muriel thought, "I believe that she would have been glad if he had wanted to marry me." She felt grateful to Godfrey's mother.
"Have you had any news of Godfrey lately?" she asked, feeling that it was perhaps the bravest thing that she had ever done.
"Yes. I suppose that you would call it news."