I took a taxi and loaded the luggage.
Then we drove to Pat's place.
"Are you coming up?" she asked.
"Of course."
I saw her up, then went down again to fetch the luggage with the driver.
When I returned Pat was still in the hall.
She was talking with Lieutenant Colonel Hake and his wife.
We went into her room.
It was light, early evening outside.
On the table was a glass vase with pale red roses.
Pat went to the window and looked out.
Then she turned round.
"How long were we away actually, Robby?"
"Exactly eighteen days."
"Eighteen days.
It seems much longer."
"To me too.
But it's always like that when you come out of it."
She shook her head.
"I don't mean that."
She opened the balcony door and went out.
There folded up against the wall leaned a white lounge deck-chair.
She pulled it out and looked at it in silence.
When she came in again her expression had altered and her eyes were dark.
"Just look at the roses," said I. "They are from Koster.
His card is beside them."
She picked up the card and then put it down again on the table.
She looked at the roses, but I saw that she hardly noticed them. She was still in her thoughts with the lounge deck-chair.
She had imagined.she had escaped it, and now once more perhaps it was to be part of her life. .
I let her be and said no more.
There was no point in trying to divert her.
She would have to face it, and it was as well it should happen now, while I was still there.
One could only postpone it with words; sooner or later it was bound to come, and then perhaps it would only be harder.
She stood awhile by the table, her face lowered, her hands leaning upon it. Then she lifted her head and looked at me.
I said nothing.
She walked slowly round the table and put her hands on my shoulders.
"Old boy," said I.
She leaned against me.
I held her tight.
"Now we're going to deal with the business, eh?"
She nodded. Then she smoothed back her hair.
"It was only a moment, Robby."
"I know."
There was a knock.
The maid entered with the tea trolley.
"That's good," said Pat.
"Will you have tea?" I asked.
"No, coffee. Good, strong coffee."
I stayed for half an hour.
Then she grew tired; I saw it in her eyes.