“Let me remind you,” he said, observing her lack of appetite, “that an ill-nourished brain can’t be depended upon for sanity of argument.”

“It aches a little,” she replied quietly.

“I was afraid so.  What if you rest to-day, and let me postpone for you that interview——?”

The suggestion was dreadful; she put it quickly aside.  She hoped with all her strength that Arnold Jacks would have received the letter already, and that he would come to see her this afternoon.  To pass another night with her suspense would be a strain scarce endurable.

Fog still hung about the streets, shifting, changing its density, but never allowing a glimpse of sky.  Alone in the drawing-room Irene longed for the end of so-called day, that she might shut out that spirit-crushing blotch of bare trees and ugly houses.  She thought of a sudden, how much harder we make life than it need be, by dwelling amid scenes that disgust, in air that lowers vitality.  There fell on her a mood of marvelling at the aims and the satisfactions of mankind.  This hideous oblong, known as Bryanston Square—­how did it come to seem a desirable place of abode?  Nay, how was it for a moment tolerable to reasoning men and women?  This whole London now gasping in foul vapours that half obscured, half emphasised its inexpressible monstrosity, its inconceivable abominations—­by what blighting of eye and soul did a nation come to accept it as their world-shown pride, their supreme City?  She was lost in a truth-perceiving dream.  Habit and association dropped away; things declared themselves in their actuality; her mind whirled under the sense of human folly, helplessness, endurance.

“Irene——­”

A cry escaped her; she started at the sound of her name as if terrified.  Arnold Jacks had entered the room, and drawn near to her, whilst she was deep in reverie.

“I am sorry to have alarmed you,” he added, smiling tolerantly.

With embarrassment which was almost shame—­for she despised womanish nervousness—­Irene turned towards the fireplace, where chairs invited them.

“Let us sit down and talk,” she said, in a softened voice.  “I am so grateful to you for coming at once.”

CHAPTER XXVII

His manner was that to which she had grown accustomed, or differed so little from it that, in ordinary circumstances, she would have remarked no peculiarity.  He might have seemed, perhaps, a trifle less matter-of-fact than usual, slightly more disposed to ironic playfulness.  At ease in the soft chair, his legs extended, with feet crossed, he observed Irene from under humorously bent brows; watched her steadily, until he saw that she could bear it no longer.  Then he spoke.

“I thought we should get through without it.”

“Without what?”

“This little reaction.  It comes into the ordinary prognosis, I believe; but we seemed safe.  Yet I can’t say I’m sorry.  It’s better no doubt, to get this over before marriage.”