"
Ellen's attitude became one of fierce contempt mingled with a slight
tremulousness.
"Such ridiculous goings-on and ways of speaking!" she muttered. "Well,
if you've anything to say to me you'll have to wait a bit, that's all.
I've got some clothes I can't leave all in a scurry like this. I'll
send Alf in to keep you company."
Burton sighed but accepted his fate. For a few moments he sat upon the
sofa and gazed around at the hopeless little room. Then, in due course,
the door was pushed open and Alfred appeared, his hair shiny, his cheeks
redolent of recent ablutions, more than a trifle reluctant. His
conversation was limited to a few monosyllables and a whoop of joy at
the receipt of a shilling. His efforts at escape afterwards were so
pitiful that Burton eventually let him out of the window, from which he
disappeared, running at full tilt towards a confectioner's shop.
Presently Ellen returned. It was exceedingly manifest that her
temporary absence had not been wholly due to the exigencies of her
domestic occupation. Her skirt was unpinned, a mauve bow adorned her
throat, a scarf of some gauzy material, also mauve, floated around her
neck. She was wearing a hat with a wing, which he was guiltily
conscious of having once admired, and which she attempted, in an airy
but exceedingly unconvincing fashion, to explain.
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