"Well, those things are between yourselves, and you seem to me both poor creatures at best." Mrs. Gereth spoke with a rich humor which tipped with light for an instant a real conviction. "I don't know what you've got in your veins: you absurdly exaggerated the difficulties. But enough is as good as a feast, and when once I get you abroad together—!" She checked herself as if from excess of meaning; what might happen when she should get them abroad together was to be gathered only from the way she slowly rubbed her hands. Fleda gave a faint, stubborn smile. "He cares for her too much."!

"And leave his house as bare as your hand? There's nothing in it that isn't precious." "She was there, day before yesterday, only for a few hours. She met him in London and went down to see the things."

"How do I know, with my wretched relations with him?" Mrs. Gereth asked. Mrs. Gereth watched Fleda and considered. "You haven't any idea if they are waiting for the things?" "Oh, I thought I remembered that at Poynton you had told me a day, and that it was near at hand."