Page:Herbert Jenkins - The Rain Girl.djvu/260

 always an indication that he was puzzled. At that moment they were joined by Mrs. Edward.

"D'you know Deacon Quelch?" he asked, following his unvarying rule of appealing to his wife for guidance.

Mrs. Edward turned to Beresford, of whom she was always suspicious.

"I was merely telling Edward of the joys of the hereafter," he explained, "when Aunt Caroline has gone there, that is, and he is left with what she couldn't take with her."

"Why don't you get something to do, Richard?" Mrs. Edward felt safe in carrying the war into the enemy's country.

"But isn't the Ministry of Munitions closing down?" he enquired innocently.

Mrs. Edward flushed.

"What are you doing here?" she asked quickly.

"I'm going to buy some flowers," said Beresford. He had just been struck with the idea of sending Lola a parting gift.

"For Miss Craven, I suppose," sneered Edward Seymour.

Beresford smiled. "Good-bye," he said, and lifting his hat he entered the florist's shop.

The flowers ordered and paid for, Beresford continued his stroll, choosing thoroughfares where he was least likely to encounter friends or acquaintance. Finding himself at Baker Street he decided to spend an hour with the squirrels in Regent's Park. It was very difficult, he decided, for a man to know