CHAPTER 3Next day Colin went back to London, where he was able to make and receive trunk calls from his own little flat. One of these trunk calls was to his sister Lydia. After rather perfunctory inquiries as to the health of his niece and nephew he said that Mrs. Arbuthnot was most anxious to see Editha Cottage as soon as possible; that she wanted her sister-in-law who was going to live with her to see it too; that Kate only had the little bedroom available at the moment and how awkward it was. He then stopped talking.
“I say, are you cut off?” said Lydia.
Colin’s voice said he wasn’t.
“Why did you stop talking then?” said Lydia.
Colin said he wondered, he meant he was just wondering, he meant he rather wondered, if it wouldn’t be a bother——
“All right,” said Lydia. “I’ll have them b
