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I used to hear he was clever； I don't know about that； I'm sure； he used to
chaff me； I remember； but〃
〃Chaff /you/？ You have met him then？〃
〃Yes； my dear；〃he was fast relapsing into his slow drawl again；
〃that is； I went to school with him； but it's a long time ago。 Brookfield
yes； that must be his name。〃
She waited a moment； then； 〃When is he coming？〃 she inquired；
abruptly。
〃Let me seeto…day's〃
〃/Monday/；〃 the word came swiftly between her set teeth。
〃Ah； yesMonday； well；〃 reflectively； 〃/next/ Monday； my dear。〃
Mrs。 Drayton rose； and began to pace softly the narrow passage
between the table and the tent wall； her hands clasped loosely behind her。
〃How long have you known this？〃 she said； stopping abruptly。 〃O John；
you /needn't/ consider； it's quite a simple question。 To…day？ Yesterday？
Her foot moved restlessly on the ground as she waited。
〃I think it was the day before yesterday；〃 he replied。
〃Then why； in heaven's name； didn't you tell me before？〃 she broke
out； fiercely。
〃My dear； it slipped my memory。 If I'd thought you would be
interested〃
〃Interested！〃 She laughed shortly。 〃It /is/ rather interesting to hear that
after six months of this〃she made a quick comprehensive gesture with
her hand〃one will have some one to speak tosome one。 It is the hand of
Providence； it comes just in time to save me from〃 She checked herself
abruptly。
He sat staring up at her stupidly； without a word。
〃It's all right； John；〃 she said； with a quick change of tone； gathering
up her work quietly as she spoke。 〃I'm not madyet。 You you must get
used to these little outbreaks；〃 she added； after a moment； smiling faintly；
〃and； to do me justice； I don't /often/ trouble you with them； do I？ I'm just
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a little tired； or it's the heat orsomething。 Nodon't touch me！〃 she cried；
shrinking back； for he had risen slowly and was coming toward her。
She had lost command over her voice； and the shrill note of horror in it
was unmistakable。 The man heard it； and shrank in his turn。
〃I'm so sorry； John；〃 she murmured； raising her great bright eyes to his
face。 They had not lost their goaded expression； though they were full of
tears。 〃I'm awfully sorry； but I'm just nervous and stupid； and I can't bear
/any one/ to touch me when I'm nervous。〃
〃Here's Broomhurst； my dear！ I made a mistake in his name after all； I
find。 I told you /Brookfield/； I believe； didn't I？ Well； it isn't Brookfield； he
says； it's Broomhurst。〃
Mrs。 Drayton had walked some little distance across the plain to meet
and welcome the expected guest。 She stood quietly waiting while her
husband stammered over his incoherent sentences； and then put out her
hand。
〃We are very glad to see you；〃 she said； with a quick glance at the
new…comer's face as she spoke。
As they walked together toward the tent； after the first greetings； she
felt his keen eyes upon her before he turned to her husband。
〃I'm afraid Mrs。 Drayton finds the climate trying？〃 he asked。 〃Perhaps
she ought not to have come so far in this heat？〃
〃Kathie is often pale。 You /do/ look white to…day； my dear；〃 he
observed； turning anxiously toward his wife。
〃Do I？〃 she replied。 The unsteadiness of her tone was hardly
appreciable； but it was not lost on Broomhurst's quick ears。 〃Oh； I don't
think so。 I /feel/ very well。〃
〃I'll come and see if they've fixed you up all right；〃 said Drayton；
following his companion toward the new tent that had been pitched at
some little distance from the large one。
〃We shall see you at dinner then？〃 Mrs。 Drayton observed in reply to
Broomhurst's smile as they parted。
She entered the tent slowly； and； moving up to the table already laid
for dinner； began to rearrange the things upon it in a purposeless；
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mechanical fashion。
After a moment she sank down upon a seat opposite the open entrance；
and put her hand to her head。
〃What is the matter with me？〃 she thought； wearily。 〃All the week I've
been looking forward to seeing this man/any/ man； /any one/ to take off
the edge of this。〃 She shuddered。 Even in thought she hesitated to analyse
the feeling that possessed her。 〃Well； he's here； and I think I feel /worse/。〃
Her eyes travelled toward the hills she had been used to watch at this hour；
and rested on them with a vague； unseeing gaze。
〃Tired Kathie？ A penny for your thoughts； my dear；〃 said her husband；
coming in presently to find her still sitting there。
〃I'm thinking what a curious world this is； and what an ironical vein of
humour the gods who look after it must possess；〃 she replied； with a
mirthless laugh； rising as she spoke。
John looked puzzled。
〃Funny my having known Broomhurst before； you mean？〃 he said
doubtfully。
〃I was fishing down at Lynmouth this time last year；〃 Broomhurst said
at dinner。 〃You know Lynmouth； Mrs。 Drayton？ Do you never imagine
you hear the gurgling of the stream？ I am tantalised already by the sound
of it rushing through the beautiful green gloom of those woods /aren't/
they lovely？ And /I/ haven't been in this burnt…up spot as many hours as
you've had months of it。〃
She smiled a little。
〃You must learn to possess your soul in patience；〃 she said； and
glanced inconsequently from Broomhurst to her husband； and then
dropped her eyes and was silent a moment。
John was obviously； and a little audibly； enjoying his dinner。 He sat
with his chair pushed close to the table； and his elbows awkwardly raised；
swallowing his soup in gulps。 He grasped his spoon tightly in his bony
hand； so that its swollen joints stood out larger and uglier than ever； his
wife thought。
Her eyes wandered to Broomhurst's hands。 They were well shaped；
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and； though not small； there was a look of refinement about them； he had a
way of touching things delicately； a little lingeringly； she noticed。 There
was an air of distinction about