e lane, which had caused her to
pause at the gate and speak to him, all at once seemed to her perfectly
idiotic, and, worse still, intrusive and impertinent. What possible
excuse was she going to give for it, in the face of her behaviour to him
that afternoon on the moorland? Merely to have asked for shelter on
account of the heat, appeared to her now as the flimsiest of excuses, and
would appear to him as an excuse simply to pry upon him, to see his mode
of living. He had not returned to the parlour. Doubtless his absence was
a silent rebuke to her. She had thrust the necessity of hospitality upon
him, but he intended to show her plainly that it was entirely of
necessity he had offered it.

Her cheeks burned at the thought. She looked quickly round. Anyhow there
was still time for flight. She picked up her gloves from where she had
laid them on the settle, and got to her feet.

"The water won't be long in boiling, Madam," said Antony's voice.

He had come back quietly into the room. For a moment he glanced in half
surprise to see the Duchessa standing by the settle. Then he crossed to
the dresser, and began taking down a cup, a saucer, and a plate.

The Duchessa sat down again, drawing her hand nervously along her
gloves.

She looked at him getting down the things and setting them on the table.
She watched his neat, deft movements. Antony took no notice of her; she
might have been part of the settle itself for all the attention he paid
her. His preparations made, he returned momentarily to the scullery to
fill the teapot. Coming back with it he placed it on the table.

"Everything is ready, Madam," he said. Dale himself could not have been
more distantly respectful.

The Duchessa looked at the one cup, the one saucer, and the one plate.

"Aren't you going to have some tea, too?" she asked.

"Servants do not sit down with their superiors," said Antony.

The colour rose hotly in the Duchessa's face.

"Why do you say that?" she demanded.

Antony lifted his shoulders, the merest suspicion of a shrug.

"I merely state a fact," he replied.

"I wish you to," she said quickly.

"Is that a command?" asked Antony.

"If you like to take it so," she replied.

Antony turned to the dresser. He took down another cup and plate and put
them on the table. Then he stood by it, waiting for her to be seated.

"Sugar?" asked the Duchessa. She was making a brave endeavour to steady
the trembling of her voice.

"If you