A moment later, she knew he was there, within earshot, but silent.
"Is that you, Godfrey?
We thought you were in Australia.

Have you been home long ?" The answer came at once, in the deep, resonant, once familiar voice--the voice no one had heard in Old Place for nine years--nine years with the war having happened in between.
"Indeed no, Janet! I've only been back a very short time." (She noticed he did not say how long.) "And I want to know when I may come down and see you all?
I hope you and Mr.Tosswill will believe me when I say it wasn't my fault that I didn't come to Beechfield last year.

I hadn't a spare moment!" The tone of the unseen speaker had become awkward, apologetic, and the listener bit her lips--she did not believe in his explanation as to why he had behaved with such a lack of gratitude and good feeling last autumn.
"We shall be very glad to see you at any time, of course.

When can we expect you ?" But the welcoming words were uttered very coldly.
"It's Tuesday to-day; I was thinking of motoring down on Friday or Saturday.

I've got a lot of business to do before then.