She searched his face, as if to discern the feeling with which he regarded her, and her timid smile of reassurance did not lack its pathos.
'Mr.Rolfe, it seems years since I saw you.' She was aged a little, and her voice fell in broken notes, an unhappy contrast to the gay, confident chirping of less than twelve months ago.
'I have only been settled here for a week.

I thought of leaving London altogether, but, after all, I had to come backwards and forwards so often,--it was better to have a home here, and this little flat will just suit me, I think.' She seemed desirous of drawing attention to its modest proportions.
'I really don't need a house, and lodgings are so wretched.

These flats are a great blessing--don't you think?
I shall manage here with one servant, only one.' Rolfe struggled with the difficulty of not knowing what to say.

There was nothing for it but to discourse as innocently as might be on the advantages of flats, their increasing popularity, and the special charms of this particular situation.

Mrs.Frothingham eagerly agreed with everything, and did her best to allow no moment of silence.
'You have heard from Miss Frothingham, I think ?' she presently let fall, with a return of anxiety.
'Not very long ago.