And at the moment his attitude towards Mrs.Falbe changed.

Instead of pity and irritation at her normality, he was suddenly taken with a sense of gratitude to her.

It was restful to suspense and jangled nerves to see someone who went on as usual.

The sun shone, the leaves of the plane-trees did not wither, Mrs.Falbe read her book, the evening paper was full of cricket news.

.