Who was he ?" "An American millionaire who didn't wear armour," she answered blandly.
Then she changed the subject with the original remark that the swallows were flying higher than they had done on the previous evening, when they looked as though one could almost catch them with one's hand.
Godfrey reflected to himself that other things which had seemed quite close on the previous night were now like the swallows, far out of reach.

Only he took comfort in the remembrance that swallows, however near, are evasive birds, not easy to seize unless you can find them sleeping.

Next she began to tell him all about the Mexican gods, whether he wanted to listen or not, and he sat there in the glory of his new clothes and brilliantined hair, and gazed at her till she asked him to desist as she felt as though she were being mesmerised.
This led him to his spiritualistic experiences of which he told her all the story, and by the time it was finished, behold! it was the luncheon hour.
"It is very interesting," she said as they entered the Hall, "and I can't laugh at it all as I should have done once, I don't quite know why.

But I hope, Godfrey, that you will have no more to do with spirits." "No, not while----" and he looked at her.
"While what ?" "While--there are such nice bodies in the world," he stammered, colouring.
She coloured also, tossed her head, and went to wash her hands.
The afternoon they spent in hunting for imaginary young jackdaws in a totally nebulous tree.

Isobel grew rather cross over its non-discovery, swearing that she remembered it well years ago, and that there were always young jackdaws there.
"Perhaps it has been cut down," suggested Godfrey.