"
Waymark wondered. There was no mistaking the genuineness of her
tone. What, then, had been the reason for this astonishing change, a
change extending, it would seem, almost to temperament? What
intermediate phases had led up to this result? He wished to ask her
for an explanation, but to do so would be to refer to the condition
she had left, and that he did not wish to do. All would no doubt
explain itself as they talked; in the meantime she told him how her
days were ordered, and the details of her life.
"Have you brought your pipe?" she asked, when they had drank their
tea.
"May I smoke?"
"Of course,--just as you used to."
"But it is not the same," Waymark said, half to himself.
"Are you sorry for the change?" Ida asked, as she handed him a box
of matches.
"What induced you to make it?"
"Oh, I have strange fancies. The idea came, just like others do. Are
you sorry?"
"The opposite. Did the idea come whilst we were at Hastings?"
"Before that. Do you remember my telling you that I had a letter
calling me back to London?"
Waymark nodded.
"It was from the laundry, to say I could go to work as soon as I
liked."
"And why didn't you tell me that?"
Ida seemed about to reply, but altered her intention, and, after
being silent for a moment, asked another question.
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