He  imagined  her  sitting  up  in  it  , looking  soft  and  tender  , her  fair  hair  coiled  loosely  in  her  neck  , her  clear  blue  eyes  smiling  as  he  sat  on  her  bed  and  told  her  anything  of  interest  that  had  occurred  during  the  day .sx   Looking  up  , suddenly  he  caught  sight  of  Aileen  , who  was  coming  along  the  road  on  her  way  back  from  lunch .sx   He  nodded  and  smiled  , and  she  smiled  back  , but  rather  wanly  , as  though  from  mere  politeness  rather  than  from  any  sense  of  pleasure .sx   During  the  last  few  months  Aileen  seemed  to  have  grown  thinner .sx   She  had  lost  a  lot  of  her  colour  and  there  were  deep  shadows  under  her  eyes .sx   Now  she  walked  slowly  towards  the  shop  , her  bag  tucked  under  her  arm  , her  left  hand  swinging  loosely  at  her  side .sx   
When  she  reached  it  Miss  Bottle  was  dusting  some  Chinese  porcelain .sx   " Has  Mr.  Livingstone  gone  out  to  lunch ?sx   " Aileen  asked  her .sx   
Miss  Bottle  nodded .sx   " Yes  , I  think  he  has .sx   Did  you  want  to  see  him ?sx   " 
Aileen  shook  her  head .sx   " No  , I  only  wondered .sx   " 
She  started  to  walk  slowly  upstairs  to  the  office .sx   So  she  wouldn't  see  him  to-day  again  , either !sx   It  was  over  a  week  now  since  she'd  set  eyes  on  him  at  all  and  she  didn't  know  how  long  it  might  go  on  for .sx   She  just  felt  she  could  not  bear  it  any  more .sx   She  held  on  to  the  banisters  for  support  and  continued  to  walk  up  , her  eyes  fixed  on  the  stairs  in  front  of  her .sx   Her  throat  felt  contracted  and  she  had  to  make  a  great  effort  not  to  cry .sx   It  was  no  good  crying  , she  told  herself  ; it  was  no  good  doing  anything .sx   After  all  , she  might  see  him  that  evening    you  could  never  tell .sx   She'd  wait  about  a  bit  outside  and  see .sx   She  could  find  out  indirectly  from  Mr.  Miller  whether  he  was  likely  to  be  going  home  early  or  not  , and  if  he  wasn't  , she'd  stand  about  in  the  hall  , talking  to  Miss  Bottle .sx   If  only  he  were  to  walk  home  she  could  linger  in  the  street  and  perhaps  even  go  up  to  him  , but  if  he  were  only  going  to  cross  the  pavement  and  step  into  his  car  , there  was  very  little  opportunity .sx   Perhaps  to-night  he'd  be  walking .sx   It  depended  on  where  he  was  going .sx   If  he  was  going  home  he  would  walk  , but  usually  he  went  to  call  on  people .sx   She  continued  to  walk  up  , pondering  in  her  own  mind  whether  she  had  better  wait  in  the  hall  or  in  the  street .sx   
Meanwhile  , Tom  having  gone  out  to  lunch  , Eric  was  sitting  at  his  desk  making  a  list  of  pieces  of  furniture  he  proposed  taking  round  to  Mrs.  Wilkinson's  house  , once  she  had  finally  decided  about  the  electric  fittings .sx   Presently  Pearl  Jessup  came  upstairs  from  the  basement  , carrying  a  roll  of  material  under  her  arm .sx   When  she  saw  Eric  she  hesitated  for  a  moment  and  then  came  towards  him .sx   She  stood  watching  him  for  some  time  in  silence  , and  when  he  looked  up  there  were  two  bright  spots  of  colour  in  her  usually  pale  cheeks .sx   
" Good-morning  , " Eric  smiled .sx   " You've  got  the  stuff  for  Mrs.  Lessiter's  bedroom  , I  suppose ?sx   " 
" Yes  , " Pearl  nodded  , " and  the  brocade  for  the  boudoir  cushions  as  well .sx   " 
" Good !sx   " said  Eric .sx   " You  might  ask  Mr.  Benson  to  get  on  with  those  at  once  ; they're  rather  urgent .sx   " 
" All  right  , Mr.  Davis  , " said  Pearl .sx   She  was  playing  with  a  button  on  her  shabby  coat  , as  though  uncertain  whether  or  not  to  bring  out  something  she  had  been  intending .sx   Eric  , feeling  that  she  had  something  else  to  say  , continued  to  look  at  her  for  a  few  moments  with  a  half-questioning  smile .sx   Suddenly  Pearl  let  go  of  the  button  and  clutched  tightly  with  both  hands  at  the  roll  of  stuff .sx   " Oh  , Mr.  Davis  , " she  continued  , with  an  evident  effort  at  unconcern  , " didn't  I  see  you  in  Cheyne  Walk  the  other  night ?sx   " 
" Did  you ?sx   " said  Eric .sx   
" Well  , I  thought  it  was  you  but  I  wasn't  sure .sx   " 
" I  don't  know  , " said  Eric  , " but  you  might  have .sx   I  quite  frequently  go  there .sx   A  friend  of  mine  lives  there  and  I  sometimes  see  her  home .sx   " 
Pearl  suddenly  blushed  and  turned  her  gaze  to  the  floor .sx   " I  only  wondered  , " she  went  on .sx   " I  hope  you  didn't  mind  my  asking ?sx   " 
Eric  wondered  why  she  looked  so  queer  about  it .sx   " Oh  , that's  all  right  , " he  said  kindly  ; and  then  , as  though  to  reassure  her  , " it's  lovely  walking  along  there  at  night  , isn't  it ?sx   You  get  the  most  marvellous  views  across  the  river .sx   I  often  go  down  there  simply  to  look  at  the  light  on  the  water .sx   " 
Pearl  nodded .sx   " Yes  , it's  lovely  , " she  echoed  in  a  low  , subdued  tone .sx   
Eric  , who  remembered  walking  home  a  few  nights  previously  with  Norma  , was  smiling  to  himself  as  he  saw  her  once  more  before  him  , the  fur  on  the  collar  of  her  coat  framing  her  face  , her  eyes  crinkled  into  a  smile  as  she  gave  him  an  amusing  description  of  a  party  she  had  been  to  the  evening  before .sx   He  noticed  when  he  glanced  up  some  moments  afterwards  that  Pearl  was  still  standing  looking  at  him  as  though  waiting  for  him  to  continue .sx   He  looked  at  her  questioningly  , and  she  lowered  her  eyes  again  and  , as  though  startled  into  reality  , turned  towards  the  door  and  left  the  shop .sx   
IT  was  a  quarter  past  six  and  Eric  was  seated  at  his  desk  writing  out  orders  for  the  electric  fittings  which  Mrs.  Wilkinson  had  chosen .sx   When  he  had  finished  he  put  them  carefully  in  a  basket  at  the  side  of  his  desk  and  sat  staring  in  front  of  him  with  his  head  in  his  hands  , visualising  the  various  rooms  and  deciding  what  suggestions  he  should  make  for  the  few  pieces  of  furniture  that  were  still  required .sx   His  forehead  was  slightly  puckered  and  there  was  an  eager  , concentrated  expression  on  his  face  that  clearly  indicated  some  sort  of  inward  elation .sx   Apart  from  the  fact  that  it  was  the  first  big  job  he  had  done  completely  on  his  own  , the  mere  fact  of  watching  the  various  rooms  slowly  come  together  , each  forming  a  harmonious  whole  that  he  had  previously  imagined  , had  been  an  increasing  source  of  delight  to  him .sx   But  it  was  only  to-day  , when  the  carpets  had  been  laid  and  the  curtains  put  up  , that  he  had  been  able  for  the  first  time  to  see  before  him  in  reality  what  he  had  seen  before  him  so  constantly  in  his  imagination .sx   And  he  had  found  the  first  thrill  of  achievement  both  exciting  and  full  of  satisfaction .sx   
He  took  some  rough  paper  from  one  of  the  drawers  in  his  desk  and  began  to  make  notes  of  various  materials  that  would  look  well  for  covering  different  chairs  and  settees  that  still  had  to  be  re-upholstered .sx   He  would  take  over  a  whole  pile  with  some  furniture  some  time  next  week  when  Mrs.  Wilkinson  was  away  , and  then  , having  arranged  them  to  his  own  satisfaction  , he  could  go  over  the  final  schemes  with  her  when  she  came  back .sx   He  glanced  at  the  note-book  at  his  side  wherein  he  had  made  a  memorandum  of  the  date  of  her  departure .sx   She  would  be  away  on  Friday  next  week  for  three  or  four  days  , so  that  would  give  him  a  good  opportunity  to  go  over  there  for  a  whole  afternoon  to  place  various  things  about  the  house  for  her  to  find  when  she  came  back .sx   
When  he  looked  at  his  watch  again  he  noticed  that  it  was  nearly  twenty  to  seven .sx   As  he  was  dining  with  Richard  , and   .sx
had  arranged  to  meet  him  at  the  Sleepy  Tortoise  , a  small  dance  club  of  which  his  friend  was  a  member  , to  drink  a  cocktail  , he  decided  that  it  was  time  for  him  to  be  moving .sx   He  got  up  and  went  to  the  back  of  the  show-rooms  through  the  little  passage  at  the  end  , across  to  the  white-tiled  lavatory  , where  he  brushed  his  hair  carefully  and  washed  his  face  and  hands .sx   Then  , reaching  for  his  stick  and  hat  , he  made  his  way  out  into  the  street .sx   It  was  a  fine  , warm  evening  and  the  pavements  were  still  gleaming  with  reflected  sunlight .sx   He  looked  up  at  the  sky  , taking  in  its  pastel  blue  with  the  habitual  pleasure  he  always  found  in  Nature  , and  started  to  walk  , his  hat  in  his  hand  , towards  Soho .sx   
He  walked  quickly  , his  slim  , well-proportioned  figure  threading  its  way  neatly  in  and  out  among  the  many  pedestrians  that  thronged  the  streets .sx   His  face  still  wore  the  faintly  preoccupied  , elated  expression  it  had  assumed  when  he  had  been  thinking  of  Mrs.  Wilkinson's  house  , but  as  he  walked  the  preoccupation  gradually  faded  and  only  the  elation  remained .sx   The  corners  of  his  mouth  , usually  firmly  set  together  , were  slightly  turned  up  , and  his  whole  face  was  suffused  with  an  expression  of  inward  excitement .sx   Presently  his  lips  formed  themselves  into  a  circle  as  though  he  were  about  to  whistle  ; but  he  did  not  do  so  , even  though  , to  the  accompaniment  of  a  popular  dance  tune  , he  was  thinking  of  what  he  would  say  to  Norma  when  he  saw  her  later  that  evening .sx   She  was  coming  back  from  Paris  to  go  to  a  dance  , and  had  promised  to  look  in  on  him  on  her  way  home .sx   Although  she  had  only  been  away  for  a  week  , whenever  he  was  separated  from  her  he  always  felt  vaguely  unsatisfied  , his  dissatisfaction  increasing  as  the  days  went  by  to  a  restlessness  which  nothing  could  assuage .sx   He  saw  her  now  in  his  mind's  eye  , as  he  saw  her  there  so  frequently  , standing  in  front  of  him  faintly  smiling  , in  one  of  those  attitudes  of  unconscious  grace  that  her  body  assumed  with  such  lovely  spontaneity .sx   It  always  seemed  to  him  that  she  had  been  formed  in  some  peculiarly  rare  and  subtle  manner  that  enabled  her  to  make  the  most  commonplace  gestures  with  a  deeply  moving  beauty .sx   
When  he  reached  the  club  and  had  been  taken  up  in  the  lift  to  the  top  floor  , on  which  it  was  situated  , he  found  Richard  seated  at  the  cocktail  bar  chatting  with  the  barman .sx   His  arms  were  folded  on  the  counter  , upon  which  he  was  leaning  with  characteristic  elegant  negligence .sx   When  he  saw  Eric  he  smiled  and  asked  him  what  he  was  going  to  drink .sx   Eric  ordered  a  Side-car  and  took  the  neighbouring  stool .sx   It  was  a  Tuesday  evening  , and  Richard  had  been  away  to  the  sea  for  a  long  week-end .sx   He  had  spent  the  greater  part  of  it  swimming  and  sun-bathing  , and  , owing  to  the  heat  wave  which  had  only  a  few  hours  previously  shown  any  signs  of  abating  , his  face  was  tanned  and  his  hair  bleached  to  a  brighter  gold  than  usual  , which  gave  to  his  blue  eyes  an  added  vividness  that  was  almost  startling .sx   To-night  his  brown-and-gold  head  , set  sturdily  upon  his  massive  shoulders  with  the  careless  ease  which  was  one  of  his  most  attractive  characteristics  , made  Eric  regard  him  in  silence  for  some  time .sx   At  last  , before  taking  a  drink  of  his  cocktail  , he  raised  it  in  front  of  him  with  the  usual  conventional  " Cheerio !sx   " Though  without  drinking  he  put  it  down  on  the  counter  in  front  of  him  again .sx   " Well  , you  look  quite  the  young  Greek  god !sx   " he  said  at  length  , in  the  usual  bantering  tone  they  reserved  for  each  other .sx   " What  have  you  been  doing  to  get  so  brown ?sx   " 
" Oh  , nothing  much  , " Richard  replied  ; " but  the  weather  was  absolutely  perfect .sx   It  was  hell  having  to  come  back  this  morning    especially  as  there  was  simply  nothing  to  do  when  I  got  back .sx   Where  do  you  want  to  go  and  feed ?sx   " he  went  on .sx   
" Oh  , I  don't  mind  , " said  Eric  , " anywhere  you  like .sx   " 
" Well  , it's  too  hot  to  go  trapesing  about  the  streets    let's  stay  and  dine  here .sx   It's  as  good  as  anywhere  for  a  change .sx   " 
" All  right  , " said  Eric  , " just  as  you  like .sx   " 
He  would  really  have  preferred  to  go  somewhere  else  , but  lately  he  had  developed  the  habit  of  falling  in  with  his  friend's  wishes  whenever  possible  , particularly  so  as  Richard  was  increasingly  prone  to  assume  curious  moods  of  touchiness  which  made  it  almost  impossible  for  Eric  to  remember  how  genuinely  satisfying  he  had  found  their  friendship  before .sx