“But aren't you going to eat anything yourself?” she asked, laughing.
“Oh, that doesn't matter. Do go and get something, to keep me in countenance. How can I eat when you are sitting watching me like that, with your elbow on the table?”
“I have done it so often before. It seemed natural to sit by you while you had your meal. I was forgetting. You see my manners have not improved. However----”
He rose for the purpose of helping himself to some food, but Clytie stopped him, made him sit down again.
“There! It was silly of me,” she said. “I did not think of it. Don't be any different from what you used to be. Let us imagine that this evening is one of the old Sunday evenings here. Ah! If you only knew how glad I am to see you. What an eternity it has been since we met.”
“Eighteen months,” said Kent laconically. “The longest eighteen months I have ever lived.”
“My poor Kent!” said Clytie, troubled. “I wish I could do something for you.”
“Ah, _es ist vorbei_,” he said, puckering his brows, as he watched the rings he was making in the damask with an inverted wineglass. Then his forehead suddenly cleared, and he looked up with his frank laugh.
“You see I am just as much of a bear as ever. Instead of telling you what a delight it is to be with you again, I come to you complaining, and I ought to have every reason not to rail at fortune.”
“You are doing great things, I hear,” said Clytie. “Tell me about them.”
“Oh, they are neither great nor much worth telling. The _opus_ is being translated into German, and part of it will be soon published by the University of Vienna.”
“A big one. I don't think I am given to running after notoriety and that sort of thing, but it is gratifying to be recognised a little. It encourages one.”
“Ah, it does!” said Clytie with more meaning than she intended.
“So I have been working away at it harder than ever.”
“I wish I had your enthusiasm,” she said. “And your power of work. Do you remember your lectures?” They talked a little about the old days, half sadly, half tenderly. Those memories were very pleasant. Then they came back to the present.
“Winnie tells me you are a great man now at the Museum. I am so glad.”
Kent waved his hand deprecatingly and laughed. “Winifred is quite an Iris,” he replied. “For she comes down to earth sometimes and tells me things about you. Yes, I am quite a man of affluence these days. I am the head of the department. I have got so much money I don't know what to do with it.”