all his movements—the sort of man who gets through a great deal in a day and without fuss or bustle.
He advanced on Madame Claire and kissed her.
"You look wonderful! I've half an hour to spend with you to-day."
He drew up a chair beside hers.
"Don't you get very tired of being always busy?" she asked him, smiling.
"Yes. I do. But I must either be in the thick of things or out of them altogether. And just now things are very thick indeed, and getting thicker."
"I really enjoy being outside," she said. "One sees so much better."
"But are you outside?" He looked narrowly at her with humorous, quizzical eyes. "Are you? I never knew you to be, puller of many threads!"
She laughed.
"Oh, I give a feeble jerk now and then. It's all I can do. Tell me about Louise. I haven't seen her for a week or more."
"About Louise? But, my dear mother, if I once start talking about Louise . . ."
"Yes? Well, why not? What am I here for? Is there any . . . improvement, do you think?"
