The interview had been with Nicholas Carey, and it had ended with his banging out of the house. It was almost the last time Althea had seen him. The very last time was when she had gone up through the wet garden to the summerhouse and heard the rain fall mournfully outside as they took their last farewell. She had withstood his anger and his pleading. She had withstood her own crying need of him. She had lived through the moment when he put his head down on her shoulder. His hot tears had run down and soaked the thin stuff of her dress. It was the hardest moment of all, because she could feel his need of her. It was almost a relief when his anger came on him again – a cold, proud anger that sent her away and slammed the door between them.

All this because Nettie Pimm had told her that Sophy Justice had had twins! She could feel a little bitter stab of humour over that. And then Miss Nettie was saying,

‘Mrs Craddock tells me she ran into Nicholas Carey the other day – in a lift at Harrods. She said he seemed to be in a great hurry, but of course one always is in town. He had just got back from abroad – but perhaps you have heard from him?’ Her little birdlike face had an effect of pecking curiosity.

Althea said, ‘No.’

Miss Nettie went on in her light, bright voice.

‘Oh, well, people drift away, don’t they? And one hasn’t really got the time. But you used to be friends – really very great friends, weren’t you? Only of course you are so fully occupied with your mother. And, by the way, do you want a very good daily – because Mrs Woodley is leaving the Ashingtons. Fancy, after all these years! But, you know, we have her cousin Doris Wills, and she says…’ Here Miss Pimm leaned right over the back of the seat and dropped her voice to a buzzing whisper. ‘The old lady, you know – quite, quite off her head, and Mrs Woodley says if she doesn’t get away she’ll be going queer herself and that’s a fact. So if you do want anyone…’