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I] times—nine years ago. We were Bertha—and Robert—then. Can we not be so now, too?

[Readily.] O yes. Why should we not?

Bertha, you knew. From the very night you landed on Kingstown pier. It all came back to me then. And you knew it. You saw it.

No. Not that night.

When?

The night we landed I felt very tired and dirty. [Shaking her head.] I did not see it in you that night.

[Smiling.] Tell me what did you see that night—your very first impression.

[Knitting her brows.] You were standing with your back to the gangway, talking to two ladies.

To two plain middleaged ladies, yes.

I recognized you at once. And I saw that you had got fat.

[Takes her hand.] And this poor fat Robert—do you dislike him then so much? Do you disbelieve all he says?