‘There, Eru,’ said Mrs Claire.

‘Got another date, haven’t you?’

Huia tossed her head.

‘That will do, Eru,’ said Mrs Claire.

‘Too bad,’ said Eru, looking at Huia.

‘You’ll go now, if you please,’ Mrs Claire insisted.

‘OK, Mrs Claire. But listen, Mrs Claire. You wouldn’t pick Huia wasn’t on the level, would you? I didn’t pick it right away, but it’s a fact. Ask Mr Questing, Mrs Claire. She’s been over at the Bay with him this afternoon. I’ll be seeing you, Huia.’

When he had gone Mrs Claire’s round face was very rosy-red. She said: ‘If Eru comes here again you must tell me at once, Huia, and the Colonel will speak to him.’

‘Yes, Mrs Claire.’

‘We are ready for dinner.’ She walked to the door and hesitated. Huia gave her a brilliant smile.

‘You know we trust you, Huia, don’t you?’

‘Yes, Mrs Claire.’

Mrs Claire went into the dining-room.

They dined in an atmosphere of repressed curiosity. Dr Ackrington returned alone, saying that he had sent Smith to bed, and that in any case he was better out of the way. Throughout dinner, Gaunt and Dikon, who had a small table to themselves, made elaborate conversation about nothing. Dikon was in a state of confusion so acute that it surprised himself. From where he sat he could see Barbara—her lamentable clothes, her white face, and her nervous hands clattering her knife and fork on the plate and pushing about the food she could not eat. Because he tried not to look, he looked the more and was annoyed with himself for doing so. Gaunt sat with his back to the Claires’ table, and Dikon saw that Barbara could not prevent herself from watching him.