'
'What sort?'
After a moment's pause he said:
'I can't kiss people.'
'I'm very glad you can't. I have no wish for you to kiss _people_.'
'I can't kiss. I don't know how anyone can. I can't do those things.'
She pretended not to hear, looked round the room, took up a book and
said:
'Will you lend me this, Aylmer?'
'No, I'll give it you.'
'Good-bye.'
'Good-bye, darling,' said Aylmer, ringing the bell.
The butler called her a cab, and she drove to Mrs Mitchell's.
When she got to the door she left a message with the footman to say she
hadn't been able to see about that matter for Mrs Mitchell yet, but
would do it tomorrow.
Just as she was speaking Mr Mitchell came up to the door.
'Hallo, hallo, hallo!' he cried in his cheery, booming voice.
'Hallo, Edith! How's Bruce?'
'Why, you ought to know. He's been with you today,' said Edith.
'He seems a bit off colour at the Foreign Office. Won't you all three
come and dine with us tomorrow? No party. I'm going to ring up and get
Aylmer. It won't hurt him to dine quietly with us.'
'We shall be delighted,' said Edith.
Mr Mitchell didn't like to see her go, but as he was longing to tell his
wife a hundred things that interested them both, he waved his hand to
her, saying:
'Good-bye.
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