After the introductory phrases, he mentioned that he had had a long drive, alone; his horse was baiting in preparation for the journey back to London.

He often took such drives in the summer, though generally on a weekday; the magnificent sky had tempted him out this morning.

He lived at Herne Hill.
At length he ventured a question.

Monica affected no reluctance to tell him that she was in a house of business, that she had relatives in London, that only by chance she found herself alone to-day.
'I should be sorry if I never saw you again.' These words he uttered with embarrassment, his eyes on the ground.
Monica could only keep silence.

Half an hour ago she would not have thought it possible for any remark of this man's seriously to occupy her mind, yet now she waited for the next sentence in discomposure which was quite free from resentment.
'We meet in this casual way, and talk, and then say good-bye.