She could hardly make out that they liked each other; all that one saw was that they trusted, so that it had something of the businesslike quality of a partnership.

Yet she found herself building up an absurd little romance about their past.

It might be, who knew, that Mr.Digby had once been in love with Helen and that she had refused him; he was poor, and she had said that she must marry money.

Althea's heart tightened a little with compassion for Mr.
Digby.

Only, if this ever had been, it was well over now; and more narrowly observing Mr.Digby's charming and irresponsible face, she reflected that he was hardly the sort of person to illustrate large themes of passion and fidelity.
A fly was waiting for them at the station, and as they jolted away Gerald remarked that she was now to see one of the worst features of Merriston; it was over an hour from the station, and if one hadn't a motor the drive was a great bore.