“If she’s as acute and experienced as she tells us, she ought to have seen the possibility long ago. No doubt, if she’s said nothing about it to you, the reason is that she just doesn’t want to discuss it. If she accepts, that’s enough.” “But she always believes that two people should be perfectly open and frank with each other about their other affairs.” “Does she? Well, I advise you to say nothing until she asks you.” “All right, darling, if you think so.” * * * * * George duly met Elizabeth at Euston. She was delighted to be back in London, away from the stuffiness of family and the solemn boredom of middle-class existence. She leaned out the window of the taxi and sniffed the air. “How lovely to smell dirty old London mud again! It means I’m free, free, free again!” “Was it very awful?” “Oh, awful, interminable.” “I’m so glad you’re back.” “It’s wonderful. And lovely to be with you again. How well you look, George, quite handsome and Italian!” “That’s because you haven’t seen me for a fortnight.” “How’s Fanny?” “Oh, very well. Sent her love to you.” “Dear old beastly ugly Tottenham Court Road!” said Elizabeth with her nose out the window again. “By the way, it was awfully frowsty in Soho while you were away. Don’t you think we might move to somewhere more modern?” “What, to a suburb? Why, George! You know you hate suburbs, and always said you liked to live in the middle of London.” “Yes, I know. But we might find something at Chelsea.” “But we couldn’t possibly afford two places at Chelsea rents.” “Well, why not share a fairly large one?” “What, and live in the same flat? George!” “Oh, all right, if you don’t want to, but Fanny thinks Soho is unhealthy for you.” “Well, we’ll see.” * * * * * Whether, as the Swedish old-maid hinted in her book, it was the stimulus of another affair or whether George was anxious to display the artistries of Fanny or whether it was merely remorse, Elizabeth found George peculiarly charming and ardent. She attributed this to the happy effect of a brief absence. [ VII ] In a few weeks they duly moved to Chelsea. Fanny found them an excellent apartment, with two large rooms, a kitchen and a modern bathroom, for less than the combined rental of their two ramshackle rooms in Soho. Elizabeth developed an unexpected talent for “home-making,” and fussed a good deal over the installation in spite of George’s light satire. But they were both only too happy to get away from the frowstiness of Soho to a clean modern flat.