"When will she be back?"
"I'm afraid not until late now—about eleven. It means that she will stay for dinner at the place in Sussex where she's speaking."
"Are—are you staying here, then?"
"I live here. Didn't you know?"
He shook his head. "Stupid of me. I hadn't realized. I've not seen Delia for ages. Only once since I left Germany, and then she was in such a hurry I hardly grasped anything but her new address. I never thought that she would be out."
It was like him to forget that people had other interests beside those concerning him.
"I'm sorry she's out. Won't you sit down?"
She prayed that he might go. She dared not trust her composure for much longer. She looked blindly round the room for help. If only he would go! His nearness hurt and bruised her. If only Delia were here, so that she were not left alone, trapped in the flat, bound to her task of hospitality by her recollection of his friendship for the vicar's daughter.
"Thanks, very much," said Godfrey. "If I may really—a—look here—are you doing anything to-night?"
"I? No—not exactly." She spoke before she thought.