When I was as near as Abbencombe, you don't suppose I was going to miss the chance of hearing you play, do you ?" "I never thought of your being there," she answered.
"And now that I know you've French blood in your veins, I can understand what always puzzled me in your playing." "What was that ?" "The un-English element in it." Nan smiled.
"Am I too unreserved then ?" she shot at him.
His grey-blue eyes smiled back at her.
"One doesn't ask reserve of a musician.

He must give himself--as you do." She flushed a little.

The man's perception was unerring.
"As no Englishwoman could," he pursued.

"We English aren't dramatic--it's bad form, you know." "'We' English ?" repeated Nan.

"That hardly applies to you, does it ?" "My mother is French.