When she reached Victoria she tightened both lips, and you saw that,
so compressed, they made a thin red line straight above a square chin. Her
charm and favour both lay, you then discovered, in expression.
Senhouse, hatless and loose-limbed, stood at the door to help her out. She
accepted his services, and was put into a cab.
"Where's he to take you?" he asked her pleasantly.
She said at once, "To Brown's Hotel." Then, before she got in, with a
hand, unperceived by the general, just touching his arm, "Jack, I want to
speak to you, but not to-night. Will you come in the morning, please? I am
rather tired, and shall dine early and go to bed. Is my maid here?" She
looked about. "Oh, I suppose she's seeing to the luggage. You might find
her, and tell her where to come to."
Senhouse smiled and nodded. "Certainly. All these things shall be done.
Anything else before you go off?"
She hesitated for a minute, then said, "Yes, there _is_ one more thing.
You mustn't come to Brown's like that. You must put on ordinary things."
He raised his eyebrows, then laughed--throwing his head up. "Wonderful
lady! Wherewithal shall I be clothed? Do you really think these things
matter?"
She was firm.
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