While she was shaking it, the
dog moved forward and sat down on her feet. Mrs. Wagge also extended her
hand, clad in a shiny glove.
"This is a--a--pleasure," she murmured. "Who WOULD have thought of
meeting you! Oh, don't let Duckie sit against your pretty frock! Come,
Duckie!"
But Duckie did not move, resting his back against Gyp's shin-bones. Mr.
Wagge, whose tongue had been passing over a mouth which she saw to its
full advantage for the first time, said abruptly:
"You 'aven't come to live here, 'ave you?"
"Oh no! I'm only with my father for the baths."
"Ah, I thought not, never havin' seen you. We've been retired here
ourselves a matter of twelve months. A pretty spot."
"Yes; lovely, isn't it?"
"We wanted nature. The air suits us, though a bit--er--too irony, as
you might say. But it's a long-lived place. We were quite a time lookin'
round."
Mrs. Wagge added in her thin voice:
"Yes--we'd thought of Wimbledon, you see, but Mr. Wagge liked this
better; he can get his walk, here; and it's more--select, perhaps. We
have several friends. The church is very nice."
Mr. Wagge's face assumed an uncertain expression. He said bluffly:
"I was always a chapel man; but--I don't know how it is--there's
something in a place like this that makes church seem more--more
suitable; my wife always had a leaning that way. I never conceal my
actions.
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