Like an automaton she went out of the house, got into the victoria, and took her seat in the corner, where she sat without a word to her husband, staring straight before her. In the train she sat in the same way, burying herself in an illustrated paper, and replying as briefly as possible to his remarks. But he maintained a perfectly equable demeanour, and it was impossible for her to draw from him a single word either of remonstrance or of impatience. When they reached town Sir Robert took her straight to a restaurant, and asked her what she would like for luncheon. “I don’t care,” she answered coldly. “I don’t want any luncheon.” “You will leave me to order it then?” said Sir Robert coolly. “Oh, yes. Pray don’t consult me. I prefer being a cipher.” “Certainly,” acquiesced Sir Robert without even a look at her. And he proceeded to order luncheon for both, taking care to choose such dishes as she preferred. Lady Sarah had an excellent appetite, and she was hungry. But even a dainty and well chosen repast failed to soften her ill-humour. “And now,” said Sir Robert when they had finished luncheon, “we will go shopping. What shops shall we visit first?” Lady Sarah laughed. “Surely you need not consult me. You appear to have made up your mind what I am to buy.” “Very well. If you will leave it to me, I dare say we shall get on very well.” He ordered a taxi, and they drove to one of the best furriers in town. Lady Sarah was passionately fond of furs, and was, he knew, anxious to have a sable cloak for the winter. He asked to have such a garment shown to him, and two magnificent cloaks, either of which might have adorned a princess, were brought and offered to him for inspection. He turned to his wife. “Is either of these the sort of thing you had in your mind?” Ill-tempered as she was, Lady Sarah could scarcely resist the beautiful furs held out before her. “Perhaps madam would like to try them on, and see which cloak became her the best.” For one moment Lady Sarah hesitated, then her ill-temper got the better of her taste again. “It is not necessary,” she said. “They are both very handsome. It is for my husband to choose which he likes best.” “Try them both on,” said Sir Robert, without appearing to note the coldness of her tone, which, while it could not be detected by the saleswoman, was quite evident to himself, knowing her moods as he did. Lady Sarah took off the long coat of purple faced cloth which she was wearing, and obediently put on first one and then the other mantle. Both were beautiful, but the one was much better adapted to her slender little figure than the other. But when Sir Robert asked her which of the two she would have, she persisted in her exaggerated humility and listlessness, and said it was for him to decide.