nd the atmosphere reacted on each other;
each explained the other. This was rather a question of the renewal of
old things than of new acquirements. Four years--those four years--do
not easily slip out of life. They had not slipped out of Tommy's; but it
had needed Venables to make them stand and deliver their message. They
delivered it, with whispers growing to clamour--a sordid recital of the
things which a man cannot do. From the friendly inexpressiveness of
Venables' eyes, Tommy gathered the classification 'just scum.' With a
side glance at Betty's part in the business, he admitted that there were
also, beyond doubt, the things which a girl cannot do--beyond doubt,
too, Betty had done them; but here old atmosphere did not come to his
help: his ignorance was as outer darkness. Those things were Betty's
concern. He wondered a little what she made of them, if anything. He
wondered a little also if he was angry with Venables; on the whole, it
hardly seemed logical enough to be worth while. (Betty in this matter
cut herself adrift from logic.)

Still nothing was said between them; still neither knew how it fared
with the other. They, who shared all their thoughts, kept these thoughts
locked from each other's sight.

Then, on the twenty-sixth of March, a letter was brought in to them as
they sat over supper. They knew what it would say. The Venables had
returned to Parker's--they would like to see the Crevequers at lunch the
next day. Mrs. Venables was eager to resume the Intimate Contact with
the People; she must have a talk with Betty about it.

Betty handed the note to Tommy, who was hunting in his pocket for
matches to light his pipe. He glanced at it, then tore it neatly and
with careful deliberation into strips, and folded them into lighters.
Betty watched him; when he had done, he held one over the lamp and lit
his pipe with it.

Having successfully carried out this operation, he turned to her.

'You didn't want it, did you?'

Betty shook her head. She had not wanted it at all.

Tommy got up and leaned out of the open window, his back to the room.

'I shall be busy to-morrow,' he remarked.

'So shall I,' Betty said slowly.

Tommy said presently:

'How much longer are they going to be in Naples?'

'Don't know,' said Betty, her chin in her hands. She was thinking it
over.

Tommy said suddenly, 'Oh, confound!' and explained, after a moment, 'My
pipe's gone out.'

They came thus to a perception of eac