The Professor's whole attitude toward him was changed. Already, it was clear, he was beginning to plan a grand scene of reconciliation, a reformed René, a forgiving Linda, the Smallman family in the background, symbolical of Impregnable Matrimony. René caught the hint and his mind played with it and blew it out into a grotesque. It gave him so much pleasure that he chuckled and said: "It won't do, you know. We couldn't come together again without a scandal." The Professor was so intent on his own thoughts that he did not notice the savage irony of the remark. He said: "It would soon die down." "Sooner than the other?" "Well----!" "I've got you there," observed René. "It wasn't fair though. I hadn't the slightest intention of doing any such thing." "Why, then----?" "Why do I want to see her? I don't know. I want to. Isn't that reason enough?" They had returned to the house. "You just ask her. Tell her I'm in Thrigsby for a few days and would like to see her. If she doesn't wish it, don't worry. I'll wait ten minutes." "Very well," said the Professor, not altogether giving up hope, "I'll tell her, but the way you talk of it seems to me almost indecent." He let himself in at the front door, and in ten minutes was out again. "Very well," he said, "she will see you. . . . If you don't mind, my wife has gone up to her room." "I wonder," thought René, "what they would make of Ann. They wouldn't mind my leaving her." He felt rather nervous as he reached the threshold of the study, but stiffened himself for the plunge. The door opened and he found himself shaking Linda warmly by the hand and asking after her health, and explaining how he came to be in Thrigsby. Linda was noticeably plumper, rounder, and more solid. He could see no charm in her and thought her unsuitably dressed, tactlessly, provincially. On the whole, he liked her. The handshake was firm, her eyes were frank. "It was nice of you to come and see me," she said. "So much better to have no nonsense about it." "If you like," said the Professor, "I--I--will----" Linda appealed to René. "Oh, no. I've nothing to say. I only wanted to know that there was to be no nonsense between us. I'm very glad. I wish we could have arrived at that sooner, but I suppose that was impossible." Linda smiled: "You've changed, René. That would have been blasphemy to you a few years ago. You hated coming to your senses." "I should think so," said the Professor. "You're not going to stay in Thrigsby?" asked Linda. "No. That's impossible, even if I wanted to. We should be crossing each other's tracks. Not that I should mind that, but---- Well, it wouldn't do, would it?" "No. I prefer being without a husband. Really, for an active woman it seems to me to be the ideal condition. She has a status and no risk." The Professor sat bolt upright: "What _do_ you mean, Linda?" "I won't insist on the advantages if it shocks you, Phil. René understands me."