Page:Claire Ambler (1928).djvu/249

 "What about?" the simple creature inquired.

At that, she looked away and shook her head ruefully; but made no reply.

"Ah" he began uncomfortably. "I suppose you—I haven't seen you since—well, I suppose you wanted to talk to me about something."

"Is it inconvenient for you to be here?"

"Not at all. I have to turn up at a party after the theatre."

"You 'have to'?" she asked. "You mean you promised to? You mustn't let me keep you."

"There's plenty of time," he assured her, and then, in silence, waited for her to explain why she had summoned him. No explanation appeared to be forthcoming; she sat looking before her at the fireplace where above a nether ruddiness small blue flames wavered upon the anthracite coal; but she did not speak, and appeared to have settled definitely into this brooding contemplation. More and more puzzled, he continued to wait, until it began to seem to him that he was engaged in a form of endurance contest. If he was, he failed to win it, for finally, after coughing slightly several times, he said, "Oh—by the way" then stopped.

"Yes?" she said. By the way'—what?"