“Andsincewhen？“
“Turnthemout!turnthemout!“Peoplewerelookingatthem。Theyweresilent。
Butfromthatmomentshelistenednomore；andthechorusoftheguests，thescenebetweenAshtonandhisservant，thegrandduetinDmajor，allwereforherasfaroffasiftheinstrumentshadgrownlesssonorousandthecharactersmoreremote。Sherememberedthegamesatcardsatthedruggist’s，andthewalktothenurse’s，thereadinginthearbour，thetete-a-tetebythefireside——allthatpoorlove，socalmandsoprotracted，sodiscreet，sotender，andthatshehadneverthelessforgotten。Andwhyhadhecomeback？Whatcombinationofcircumstanceshadbroughthimbackintoherlife？Hewasstandingbehindher，leaningwithhisshoulderagainstthewallofthebox；nowandagainshefeltherselfshudderingbeneaththehotbreathfromhisnostrilsfallinguponherhair。
“Doesthisamuseyou？“saidhe，bendingoverhersocloselythattheendofhismoustachebrushedhercheek。Sherepliedcarelessly——
“Oh，dearme，no，notmuch。“