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 He smiled at her with embarrassment, then leant his elbow on the warm rail of the verandah and looked down on to the road.

"It's so hot," he said with sudden petulance, "so beastly hot. I didn't realise how hot it was going to be or I wouldn't have bicycled out."

"It's not very hot here, is it? Those leaves"

"No, but I was thinking about the hotness everywhere else. This makes it worse."

"Fancy bicycling. Do let me give you some blancmange; I think it is an heirloom. Did you come far?"

"From Lewisham." He added, "I work in a publisher's office."

"A publisher—how interesting. I wonder if you could do anything to help a boy I know; such a charming boy! He has written a book, but"

He flushed. "I am not a—an influential member of the firm."

"Oh, then, p'raps you couldn't. Tell me, why did you come here to-day? I mean why here specially?"