"I'm back to stay," she said.
"The idea! Well, where you hiding that handsome husband of yours? Say, but we were surprised! You're the sly one—"
"My—Mr. Deacon isn't here."
"Oh."
"No. He's West."
"Oh, I see."
Having no arts, she must needs let the conversation die like this, could invent nothing concealing or gracious on which to move away.
She went to the post-office. It was early, there were few at the post-office—with only one or two there had she to go through her examination. Then she went to the general delivery window, tense for a new ordeal.
To her relief, the face which was shown there was one strange to her, a slim youth, reading a letter of his own, and smiling.
"Excuse me," said Lulu faintly.