CHAPTER 2

 He did as she bade and in five minutes she joined him. He was smoking a cigarette.

 

"I say, could I have a brandy and soda¹?"

 

"Yes, I'll ring."

 

"I don't think it would hurt you by the look of things."

 

They waited in silence for the boy to answer. She gave the order.

 

"Ring up the laboratory and ask if Walter is there," she said then. "They won't know your voice."

 

He took up the receiver and asked for the number. He inquired whether Dr. Fane was in. He put down the receiver.

 

"He hasn't been in since tiffin," he told her. "Ask the boy whether he has been here."

 

"I daren't. It'll look so funny if he has and I didn't see him."

 

The boy brought the drinks and Townsend helped himself. When he offered her some she shook her head.

 

"What's to be done if it was Walter?" she asked.

 

"Perhaps he wouldn't care."

 

"Walter?"

 

Her tone was incredulous.

 

"It's always struck me he was rather shy. Some men can't bear scenes, you know. He's got sense enough to know that there's nothing to be gained by making a scandal. I don't believe for a minute it was Walter, but even if it was my impression is that he'll do nothing. I think he'll ignore it."

 

She reflected for a moment.

 

"He's awfully² in love with me."

 

"Well, that's all to the good. You'll get round him."

 

He gave her that charming smile of his which she had always found so irresistible³. It was a slow smile which started in his clear blue eyes and travelled by perceptible degrees to his shapely mouth. He had small white even teeth. It was a very sensual smile and it made her heart melt in her body.

 

"I don't very much care," she said, with a flash of gaiety. "It was worth it."

 

"It was my fault."

 

"Why did you come? I was amazed to see you."

 

"I couldn't resist it."

 

"You dear."

 

She leaned a little towards him, her dark and shining eyes gazing passionately⁴ into his, her mouth a little open with desire, and he put his arms round her. She abandoned herself with a sigh of ecstasy⁵ to their shelter.

 

"You know you can always count on me," he said.

 

"I'm so happy with you. I wish I could make you as happy as you make me."

 

"You're not frightened any more?"

 

"I hate Walter," she answered.

 

He did not quite know what to say to this, so he kissed her. Her face was very soft against his.

 

But he took her wrist on which was a little gold watch and looked at the time.

 

"Do you know what I must do now?"

 

"Bolt?" she smiled.

 

He nodded. For one instant she clung to him more closely, but she felt his desire to go, and she released him.

 

"It's shameful⁶ the way you neglect your work. Be off with you."

 

He could never resist the temptation to flirt⁷.

 

"You seem in a devil of a hurry to get rid of me," he said lightly.

 

"You know that I hate to let you go."

 

Her answer was low and deep and serious. He gave a flattered laugh.

 

"Don't worry your pretty little head about our mysterious visitor. I'm quite sure it was the amah. And if there's any trouble I guarantee to get you out of it."

 

"Have you had a lot of experience?"

 

His smile was amused and complacent⁸.

 

"No, but I flatter myself that I've got a head screwed on my shoulders."

1 soda   

n.苏打水；汽水

参考例句：

• She doesn't enjoy drinking chocolate soda.她不喜欢喝巧克力汽水。
• I will freshen your drink with more soda and ice cubes.我给你的饮料重加一些苏打水和冰块。

2 awfully   

adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地

参考例句：

• Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
• I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。

3 irresistible   

adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的

参考例句：

• The wheel of history rolls forward with an irresistible force.历史车轮滚滚向前，势不可挡。
• She saw an irresistible skirt in the store window.她看见商店的橱窗里有一条叫人着迷的裙子。

4 passionately   

ad.热烈地，激烈地

参考例句：

• She could hate as passionately as she could love. 她能恨得咬牙切齿，也能爱得一往情深。
• He was passionately addicted to pop music. 他酷爱流行音乐。

5 ecstasy   

n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷

参考例句：

• He listened to the music with ecstasy.他听音乐听得入了神。
• Speechless with ecstasy,the little boys gazed at the toys.小孩注视着那些玩具，高兴得说不出话来。

6 shameful   

adj.可耻的，不道德的

参考例句：

• It is very shameful of him to show off.他向人炫耀自己，真不害臊。
• We must expose this shameful activity to the newspapers.我们一定要向报社揭露这一无耻行径。

7 flirt   

v.调情，挑逗，调戏；n.调情者，卖俏者

参考例句：

• He used to flirt with every girl he met.过去他总是看到一个姑娘便跟她调情。
• He watched the stranger flirt with his girlfriend and got fighting mad.看着那个陌生人和他女朋友调情，他都要抓狂了。

8 complacent   

adj.自满的；自鸣得意的

参考例句：

• We must not become complacent the moment we have some success.我们决不能一见成绩就自满起来。
• She was complacent about her achievements.她对自己的成绩沾沾自喜。