She had descended and he moved along the hall with her towards the morning room.
She certainly was not enthusiastic over it. She asked, "Well, what are you going to do?"
He wished he had thought of some plan as he came along. "What time's lunch? Half-past one? What about getting your bike and going for a bit of a run first?"
She was at a drawer of her table where she kept, with beautiful neatness, implements for various household duties. A pair of long scissors came out. "I can't possibly. I've things to do. Besides some one's coming to lunch."
He began to feel he had been a fool. The feeling nettled him and he thought, "Why 'some one'? Dash it, I might be a stranger in the house. Why doesn't she say who?" And then he thought, "Why should she? This is just _it_. I'd have heard all about it at breakfast if I'd been decently communicative."
She took a shallow basket from the shelf. He knew this and the long scissors for her flower-cutting implements. "Mr. Bagshaw."
And before he could stop himself he had groaned, "Oh, lord!"
She "flew up" and he rushed in tumultuously to make amends for his blunder and prevent her flying up.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I really am most awfully sorry, Mabel. 'Oh, lord''s not really profanity. You know it's not. It's just my way--"
But he persevered. "As a matter of fact, it's clear connection of thought in this case. Bagshaw's a clergyman, and my mind flew instantly to celestial things."
She did not respond to this. "In any case, I really cannot see why you should object to Mr. Boom Bagshaw."
"I've heard you say--often--that he's far and away the best preacher you've ever heard."
"It's just his coming to lunch. He's such a terrific talker and you know I can't stick talkers."
"Yes, that's just why I invite them when you're not here."
He laughed and came across the room towards her impulsively. He was going to carry this through. "You've got me there. Properly." He took the basket from her hand. "Come on, we'll cut the flowers. I'll be absolutely chatty with old Bagshaw."
She smiled and her smile encouraged him tremendously. This was the way to do it! They went through the glass doors into the garden and he continued, "Really chatty. I'm going to turn over a new leaf. As a matter of fact, that's why I came back. I got out of bed the wrong side this morning, didn't I?"