'Oh, it isn't only that--I'm a kind of Secretary, you see, to the Society.'
'Really? Really? What fun it must be; I mean how interesting. Can I belong?'
'Oh, dear yes, of course, Mrs Ottley. If you liked.'
'Well, first of all you would have to pay a shilling.'
'And then you would be eligible for a year's probation.'
'Well, after that, you see, we shall have to bide our time.'
'That doesn't sound very hard,' said Edith thoughtfully. 'Just to pay a shilling and bide your time.'
'I'll send you some papers about it, if you really take any interest.'
'Thanks. Thanks, very much. Yes, do send them.'
'Do you really think you would care to become a member, Mrs Ottley?'
'Oh, yes; yes, I should think so. I always hated Oliver Cromwell.'
'Yes, of course--but that alone, I'm afraid, would hardly be ... you see there might be a revolution at any moment.'
'I see. But--excuse my asking you, what has that to do with the British Museum?'
'I can hardly tell you off-hand like this, Mrs Ottley; but if you let me come again one day--'
'Then I'll say good-bye for today,' said Raggett, with an admiring look. 'I--I hope I haven't trespassed on your valuable--'
'I've enjoyed our talk so much,' said Raggett, lingering.
'So have I, Mr Raggett. It has been most interesting.'
'I--I felt,' said Raggett, now standing up and looking very shy, 'I somehow felt at once that there was a kind of--may I say, sympathy?'
'Yes? Well, give my kind regards to Ottley, and thank you so much.'
They shook hands, she rang the bell, and he rushed out as if he was in a violent hurry, leaving Edith rather bewildered.
Bruce dropped his spoon in the soup and looked up.
'_Raggett_? He--do you mean to say he came here?'
'Yes. He paid a visit. Why shouldn't he?'
'I don't know, but it seems a very odd thing. He never pays visits. What did he seem to think of the flat?'
'He didn't say. He talked about his work.'
'What did you think of him?' asked Bruce.
'He seemed very vague. He's very good-natured; fancy his sending me all those flowers!'
'He sent you flowers?' said Bruce slowly. '_Raggett_!'
Bruce waited a minute and said, 'We'll talk it over after dinner.'
There was an uneasy pause; then Edith said--
'I saw Hyacinth today. She had just had a visit from Lady Cannon.'