“Ay!” he said, tidying up the tea.

“We can’t possibly not live together now, can we?” she said appealingly.

He looked up at her with his flickering grin.

“No!” he said. “Only you’ve got to start in twenty-five minutes.”

“Have I?” she cried. Suddenly he held up a warning finger, and rose to his feet.

Flossie had given a short bark, then three loud sharp yaps of warning.

Silent, he put his plate on the tray and went downstairs. Constance heard him go down the garden path. A bicycle bell tinkled outside there.

“Morning, Mr. Mellors! Registered letter!”